vRRi 


R0BEWI 


BY  WILSON   BARRETT. 

* 
THE  SIGN  OF  THE  CROSS. 

WITH  FRONTISPIECE  BY  B.  WKST  CLINBDINST. 

I2mo.  Cloth  extra,  $1^50. 
"  Mr.  Barrett  has  treated  his  subject  with 
reverence  and  dignity.  The  brutal,  licen- 
tious Nero  and  his  ribald  drunken  satellites 
make  an  admirable  foil  to  the  spiritual  Mercia 
and  the  other  followers  of  Christ ;  and 
throughout  the  book  the  nobility,  the  simple 
faith,  and  the  steadfastness  of  these  last  are 
dominating  notes.  No  more  impressive  les- 
son of  the  power  of  the  doctrines  of  Christi- 
anity has  been  given  in  fiction  than  the  con- 
version of  Marcus,  Nero's  Prefect,  through 
the  example  and  fearlessness  of  the  girl 
Mercia."— Philadelphia,  Evening  Bulletin. 


11  And  I— I Whither  shall  I  go?" 


Page  236. 


Daughters  of  Babylon 


A  Novel 


By 

Wilson    Barrett 

and 

Robert  Hichens 


Philadelphia 

J.  B.  Lippincott  Company 
Mdcccxcix 


COPYRIGHT,  1899, 

BY 
J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY. 


PRINTED  BY  J.  B.  LlPWNCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA,  U.  8.  A. 


The  Daughters  of  Babylon 


CHAPTEK  I 

ELOIA  sat  by  the  well  of  Naomi.  It  was  towards 
evening,  and  the  glaring  heat  of  the  sun  was  tempered 
by  a  soft  breeze  full  of  the  thrilling  coolness  that 
only  desert  winds  know.  Through  the  palms  about 
the  well  the  lemon  light  slanted  across  the  dark 
head,  with  its  heavy  mass  of  hair,  that  was  bowed  as 
if  in  deep  meditation  or  in  grief.  In  the  distance, 
softened  and  sweetly  melancholy,  there  was  the  sound 
of  singing  voices.  For  in  the  fields,  among  the  flocks 
and  the  herds,  the  people  of  Elcia's  tribe,  sons  and 
daughters  of  Israel  in  captivity  to  Babylon,  chanted 
the  hymns  of  their  ancient  faith  as  they  watched  the 
grazing  cattle,  tended  the  nibbling  sheep,  or  wrought 
at  making  packs  for  the  camels  in  the  doors  of  their 
tents.  These  same  tents  were  hidden  from  the  great 
eyes  of  Elcia,  for  the  well  lay  apart,  and,  at  this  mo- 
ment, there  were  no  stalwart  shepherds  or  herdsmen 
discussing  the  tributes  paid  to  the  Babylonish  king,  or, 
with  lowered  voices,  whispering  of  the  hour  when  Israel 
should  be  free,  and  mourning  be  turned  into  the  joy  that 
cannot  live  in  slavery. 

In  such  discussions  Johanan,  husband  of  Elcia,  loved 

5 


2228436 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

to  take  a  part.  Young,  ardent,  and  enthusiastic,  the 
bondage  of  his  people  weighed  upon  his  heart,  and  his 
mind  was  ever  occupied  with  that  desired  future,  in 
which  captivity  should  be  changed  into  freedom,  and 
the  heavy  burthen  be  lifted  from  Israel's  shoulders, 
never  to  lie  on  them  again. 

But  Elcia  was  a  woman.  She  was  in  the  dawn  of 
an  opulent  beauty.  Her  magnificent  eyes,  deep  and 
liquid  with  light,  looked  not  to  Babylon  with  desire  for 
its  destruction.  She  dreamed  rather  of  love  than  of 
hatred,  as  is  the  way  of  women,  and,  in  her  reveries, 
betook  herself f to  desires  that  were  not  broad  and  far- 
reaching,  national,  and  of  consequence  to  the  many, 
but  to  those  that  were  personal,  limited,  and  of  im- 
portance to  herself,  and  to  the  one  or  two  whose  lives 
were  at  this  time  bound  with  hers. 

She  thought  not  of  the  great  and  distant  Babylon 
now,  as  she  leaned  alone  by  the  well,  fixing  her  liquid 
eyes  upon  its  still  waters,  illuminated  by  the  growing 
fire  of  the  sunset  sky.  She  thought  of  her  own  life 
and  of  two  who  stood  within  its  circle — Johanan,  her 
husband,  and  Jediah,  son  of  Zoar.  And  it  seemed  her 
thoughts  ran  sadly,  for  her  beauty  was  shadowed  by  an 
expression  of  dim  anxiety,  and  in  her  eyes  the  tears  were 
brimming.  For,  of  a  truth,  although  Elcia  thought  not 
of  Babylon,  yet  even  now  the  Great  City  was  stretch- 
ing out  its  arms  to  her,  unseen  by  her  eyes.  Its  mighty 
voice  was  calling  to  her,  though  she  could  not  hear  it. 
Its  life,  with  cruel  subtlety,  was  mingling  with  hers. 
For  Babylon's  terror  and  magnificence,  Babylon's  op- 
pression and  cruelty,  stood  up  like  a  shadowy  wall  be- 

6 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

tween  her  and  her  husband,  Johanan.  She  had  loved 
him  well,  for  he  was  goodly  and  of  a  noble  bearing, 
and  his  brave  and  passionate  eyes  had  spoken  to  her 
heart,  and  stirred  all  the  tenderness  of  her  nature. 
But  that  seemed  already  long  ago,  before  he  thought 
of  Babylon,  and  was  ever  with  his  kinsmen,  discussing 
the  sadness  of  their  slavery  and  laying  plans  to  break 
the  heavy  chains  that  bound  them.  Then  he  thought 
only  of  her,  and  forgot  that  he  was  in  some  sort  a 
slave,  as  he  held  her  in  his  strong  arms  and  laid  his  lips 
on  hers.  But  now,  although  in  truth  he  loved  her  no 
less,  he  was  yet  caught  in  the  meshei  of  the  net  of  a 
wide  intrigue.  His  heart  was  hot  with  wrongs  and 
iron  with  resolution.  It  beat  for  his  downtrodden 
nation.  Elcia  wished  it  to  beat  ever  and  alone  for  her. 

Jediah  was  often  at  hand  to  speak  with  her  of  this 
growing  fanaticism  of  Johanan. 

"  He  forgetteth  thee  when  he  remembereth  our  bond- 
age," he  said.  "  He  forgetteth  thee,  Elcia.  He  saith 
naught  to  thee.  But  unto  others " 

Jediah  paused  significantly,  looking  close  into  the 
eyes  of  Elcia.  An  expression  of  keen  anxiety  woke 
in  them  a  hunger  of  pitiful  curiosity  and  eagerness. 

"  Unto  others  ?"  she  said.  "  What  meanest  thou  ? 
What  saith  he  unto  others,  oh,  Jediah  ?" 

"I  scarce — nay,  I  desire  not  to  tell  thee,"  he  an- 
swered, with  an  assumption  of  uneasiness.  "  'Tis  bet- 
ter that  thou  should'st  be  ignorant  of  this  matter. 
'Tis  not  thy  fault  that  thou  art " 

Again  he  checked  himself.  But  Elcia  was  not  to  be 
put  off. 

7 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

"  Tell  me,  Jediah !"  she  cried,  "  for  I  will  know,  even 
though  it  hurt  me  unto  death." 

"Well,  then — to  others  he  doth  groan  and  ever 
lament  that  his  wife  is  barren,"  said  Jediah  slowly. 

Elcia  uttered  a  cry  and  hid  her  face  in  her  hands. 
This  reproach  was  like  a  sword  struck  down  into  her 
heart.  She  quivered  with  the  pain  and  with  the  terror 
of  it,  and  her  cheeks  grew  hot  with  shame  and  anger. 

Jediah  was  a  man  of  importance  in  the  tribe,  a  Lord 
and  Judge  in  Israel,  son  of  the  aged  Zoar,  whose  flocks 
and  whose  herds  were  mighty,  and  whose  tribute  to 
the  Babylonians  in  sheep  and  in  cattle,  in  corn  and  in 
oil,  was  heavy,  by  reason  of  his  great  possessions.  All 
held  Jediah  in  respect.  But  Jediah  was  by  nature 
pitiless  and  lacking  in  bowels  of  mercy.  He  was  the 
friend  of  Johanan,  who  trusted  in  him  above  all  other 
men.  Yet  he  often  spoke  with  Elcia  by  the  well  at 
eventide,  or,  in  a  more  removed  place,  among  the 
thickets  of  palm-trees  that  gave  a  soft  shade  from  the 
heat  of  noontide.  And  always  he  spoke  of  Johanan, 
and  of  how  his  thoughts  were  with  his  nation  and 
remote  from  his  wife. 

And  Elcia  listened,  and  looked  into  his  fierce  and 
bold  eyes,  until  she  heard  and  gazed  to  her  undoing. 

Even  now,  as  the  sun  sank  lower,  and  the  distant 
songs  of  the  Israelites  rose  up  in  the  evening  silence, 
a  step  sounded  among  the  dry  reeds  that  grew  thickly 
near  the  well,  and  Elcia,  looking  round,  beheld  Jediah. 

"  Thou  art  alone,  Elcia,"  he  said.  And  he  glanced 
cautiously  behind  him  to  see  that  no  herdsman  wan- 
dered near  among  the  palms,  that  no  women,  bearing 

8 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

pitchers,  drew  nigh  from  the  fields.  "  Thou  art  alone. 
But  it  is  ever  so.  Johanan  forgetteth  thee.  Even  now 
he  is  with  Ahira  and  with  Adoram.  And  he  speaketh 
not  of  thee,  but  of  Babylon.  He  thinketh  not  of  thee, 
but  of  the  Great  City  and  of  the  oppressors  of  Israel. 
Is  it  not  so  ?" 

And  he  drew  close  to  her  and  laid  his  hand  upon 
hers.  She  answered  him  nothing,  but  the  shadow 
grew  in  her  face. 

"  Should  he  be  married  who  cannot  hold  close  his 
wife,  Elcia  ?"  continued  Jediah.  "  No  child  cometh  to 
bless  thy  union  and  to  bring  joy  into  thy  tent.  And 
this  thing  setteth  thee  far  from  thy  husband,  for  he 
desireth  ever  to  have  seed  that  they  may  bear  his  name 
and  live  long  in  the  land.  Should  a  woman  be  true  to 
one  who  ever  leaveth  her  to  mourn  alone  beside  the 
water?  Thou  answerest  not.  Then  I  will  tell  thee. 
She  oweth  him  neither  love  nor  faithfulness.  Rather 
oweth  she  these  things  to  him  who  truly  loveth  her, 
who  would  give  his  life  for  her  sake,  who  would,  ay, 
who  would  even  let  the  cruel  chains  hang  still  upon 
the  necks  of  his  people  rather  than  that  one  sad  thought 
should  be  within  her  heart,  or  the  dimness  of  tears 
rise  up  to  hide  the  sunshine  from  her  eyes.  Elcia, 
Elcia,  when  wilt  thou  reward  thy  servant  ?  When  wilt 
thou  flee  with  me  that  we  may  hide  ourselves  in  Baby- 
lon, where  alone  is  safety  for  our  love,  mine  and  thine  ?" 

"  Ah,  my  lord,  speak  not  so  to  me,"  she  replied,  and 
her  voice  was  low  and  broken.  "  I  dare  not,  I  dare 
not.  And  Johanan " 

"  Cares  not  for  thee.     What  is  a  woman  to  him  who 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

is  full  of  vain  dreams  of  glory  ?    Nothing,  Elcia,  and 
thou  knowest  it." 

She  bent  her  head  lower.  There  was  a  cruel  jealousy 
in  her  heart,  jealousy  of  a  nation,  jealousy  of  a  city. 
For  had  not  the  Babylonish  oppressors  caught  Joha- 
nan's  soul  from  her  in  wrath  ?  Had  not  Babylon  itself 
drawn  him  from  her  in  anger  ? 

"  Thou  art  no  longer  anything  to  Johanan,  Elcia. 
Did'st  thou  die  to-night,  he  would  go  up  against  the 
Babylonians  to-morrow,  leaving  thy  fair  body  unburied, 
thy  lifeless  heart  unwept.  But  I " 

And  he  drew  close  to  her  and  put  his  arm  around  her. 

"  Thou  lovest  me  indeed  ?"  she  asked  him  slowly. 

"  So  much  that  I  am  ready  to  leave  all  here  for  thee, 
and  to  follow  thee  to  Babylon,  where  we  may  be  to- 
gether in  safety,  where  we  may  love,  watched  by  no 
prying  kinsmen's  eyes,  babbled  of  by  no  heedless 
tongues.  There,  in  the  Great  City,  Elcia,  will  I  make 
thee  forget  thy  sorrow  that  now  turneth  thine  eyes  to 
mourning  and  thy  heart  to  grief.  Hearken  unto  me. 
Even  to-morrow,  at  sundown,  there  passeth  a  caravan 
for  Babylon.  It  carrieth  heavy  tribute  to  the  young 
Lord  Alorus.  Disguise  thyself,  watch  well  thine  op- 
portunity ;  say  to  the  master  of  the  camels  that  thou 
hast  need  to  journey  to  the  city.  I  will  speak  with 
him.  I  will  be  the  surety  for  any  payment.  I  will 
tell  thee  whither  thou  mayest  go  when  thou  reachest 
the  end  of  thy  journey,  and  in  some  short  space  of 
time  will  I  join  thee  there.  Say,  Elcia,  wilt  thou  go  ?" 

She  shuddered  by  the  well,  as  if  the  falling  of  the 
night  had  chilled  her  fair  limbs. 

IO 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"I  dare  not,  Jediah,  I  dare  not,"  she  murmured. 
"  I  fear  the  city.  I  fear  Babylon." 

A  fierce  expression  of  contempt  and  anger  passed 
over  his  face  and  was  gone  in  a  moment. 

"  Thou  hast  naught  to  fear  when  I  am  with  thee," 
he  said.  "Wilt  thou  not  go,  Elcia?  Thy  husband 
will  not  miss  thee,  be  sure.  He  concerneth  himself 
with  thee  no  longer.  But  I  think  of  thee  from  the 
rising  of  the  sun  unto  the  going  down  of  the  same." 

"  Dost  thou  indeed  love  me,  Jediah  ?"  she  asked  him. 

And  she  fixed  her  great  eyes  on  his. 

"  So  well  that  I  will  leave  all  for  thee,  if  thou  wilt 
but  trust  in  me." 

And  he  bent  down  and  kissed  her. 

"Wilt  thou  go  to-morrow  at  sundown?"  he  whis- 
pered. 

She  felt  the  strength  of  his  arms  about  her,  and  she 
needed  love.  She  thought  of  Johanan,  her  husband, 
ever  brooding  on  the  wrongs  of  his  nation  in  bondage, 
ever  speaking  of  deliverance  with  the  brethren  while 
she  was  left  alone.  She  wondered  if,  somewhere,  far 
off,  in  the  great  and  mysterious  city,  she  might  not 
find  the  joy  which  she  lacked  here,  among  the  fields, 
amidst  a  down-trodden  people.  Something,  that  seemed 
to  speak  defiantly  and  against  her  will,  rose  up  in  her 
and  said — 

« I  will  go,  Jediah." 

"  To-morrow,  at  sundown  ?" 

"  To-morrow,  at  sundown." 

"  It  is  well,  Elcia.  In  Babylon  how  I  will  love  thee ! 
Hush!  I  see  Johanan.  Get  thee  gone." 

II 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

She  rose  and  disappeared  among  the  palms.  As  she 
did  so,  Johanan  approached  the  well. 

"  That  is  Elcia  ?"  he  said  to  Jediah. 

"Even  so,  Johanan.  I  have  spoken  with  her  of 
what  thou  toldest  to  me. 

"  And  she  hasteneth  away  when  I  come  near." 

The  face  of  Johanan,  strong,  manly,  and  courageous, 
full  of  youth  and  energy,  grew  sad,  even  bitter. 

"It  is  as  I  thought,  Jediah.  Tell  me!  Elcia  cares 
not  for  me  ?" 

"I  know  not,  Johanan.  She  is  beautiful,  but  she 
seemeth  strange  and  cold,  like  the  wind  that  cometh 
out  of  the  desert.  Thou  hast  done  well  to  follow  my 
counsel  and  to  let  be.  Importune  her  not.  If  she 
seeth  that  thou  concernest  thyself  with  other  things, 
that  thou  art  a  man  to  lead  the  brethren,  and,  perad- 
venture,  to  lift  from  their  necks  the  heavy  yoke  be- 
neath which  they  groan,  then  she  will  come  to  thee  as 
to  her  lord.  It  is  the  way  of  women.  They  worship 
not  those  that  think  of  naught  but  them." 

"Is  it  even  so?  Thou  said'st  to  her  that  thou 
knewest  how  dear  was  she  to  me?  That  weigheth 
with  a  woman  when  another  man  speaketh  it,  Jediah." 

"  I  did  say  so,  Johanan." 

"  And  she ?" 

"  Smiled,  and  when  she  saw  thee  coming  towards  the 
well,  got  her  up  and  hasted  away.  Better  not  speak 
with  her  till  the  mood  passeth,  Johanan.  She  will 
turn  to  thee  again,  but  not  now.  But  let  us  talk  not  of 
Elcia  longer,  but  of  this  bitterness  that  oppresseth  us." 

He  took  Johanan  gently  by  the  hand,  and  they 
12 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

walked  together  towards  the  tents,  talking  of  the 
Captivity  of  Israel.  The  stars  came  up  in  the  clear 
Eastern  sky.  And  all  that  evening  Elcia  sat  apart  in 
her  tent,  alone.  Johanan  came  not.  For  indeed  he 
was  ever  with  Jediah,  who  left  him  not,  but  spoke 
with  him  of  the  wrongs  of  their  sad  nation,  and  of  the 
joy  that  would  come  with  the  morning,  when  the  cap- 
tives would  be  free,  and  their  long  oppressors  be  tram- 
pled under  the  feet  of  God's  ancient  people. 

The  night  fell,  and  at  last  Elcia  laid  her  down  and 
slept.  Her  eyes  were  still  wet  with  tears  when  she 
dreamed  of  Babylon. 

The  day  following,  Elcia  felt  as  one  in  a  dream, 
vague,  wandering,  and  helpless.  She  looked  at  all  the 
familiar  things  around  her — at  the  wide  and  hedgeless 
fields  of  grass  and  green  corn ;  at  the  tall  reeds  that 
rustled,  with  a  dry  sound,  beside  the  water;  at  the 
droves  of  camels  kneeling  to  receive  their  burdens,  or 
moving  slowly  with  their  fantastic  gait  in  long  lines 
towards  the  horizon ;  at  the  peaked  tents  round  which 
the  children  played,  the  women  gathered  to  chatter, 
and  the  lean  dogs  snuffed  in  search  of  fragments  of 
forgotten  food;  at  the  men  going  forth  to  labour, 
wrapped  in  their  long  robes,  with  sombre  hoods  drawn 
over  their  heads  to  protect  them  from  the  sun.  She 
gazed  at  the  clusters  of  palm-trees  and  at  the  mimosa 
bushes.  She  listened  to  the  singing  of  the  birds  and 
to  the  murmur  of  the  waters  and  to  the  voices  that 
spoke  around  her.  And  always  she  saw  things  as  in  a 
dream,  and  she  heard  them  as  from  very  far  off.  Once 

13 


THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

or  twice,  at  early  dawn  and  in  the  dull  heat  of  noon- 
tide, she  met  Jediah.  He  gazed  at  her  with  his  fierce 
eyes,  in  which  there  dwelled  to-day  a  deep  anxiety. 
And  he  said  to  her — 

"  Thou  wilt  depart  to-night,  Elcia  ?" 

And  she  answered  him,  scarce  knowing,  indeed, 
what  she  said — 

"  To-night  I  will  depart,  Jediah." 

"  Leave  thy  tent  ere  sundown.  I  will  await  thee  in 
the  thicket  beyond  the  well  of  Naomi,  to  bid  thee 
farewell  and  to  tell  thee  what  thou  must  do  when  thou 
goest  to  Babylon." 

"  To  Babylon !"  She  shivered,  as  if  from  fear,  and 
her  heart  was  cold  within  her.  She  heard,  a  little  way 
off,  some  women  laughing.  Their  happiness  seemed  a 
strange  and  mysterious  thing  to  her.  Jediah  watched 
her  closely. 

"Thou  wilt  not  fail,  Elcia?"  he  said.  "Thou  wilt 
not  stay  here  with  the  man  who  heedeth  thee  not — 
who  despiseth  thee,  and  would  fain  seek  another  wife ; 
one  who  would  raise  up  seed  unto  him  and  bless  his 
tent  with  children  ?" 

And  then  she  felt  as  if  a  vice  tightened  around  her 
heart,  and  she  answered — 

"  Ere  sundown  I  will  meet  thee,  Jediah,  in  the 
thicket  beyond  the  well  of  Naomi.  And  I  will  journey 
to  Babylon  to  wait  thee  there." 

Then  he  smiled  and  went  his  way,  and  in  his  heart 
he  laughed  at  the  weakness  of  women. 

Johanan,  according  to  the  counsel  of  Jediah,  had 
scarce  spoken  to  Elcia  in  the  dawn  when  she  woke 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

within  the  shadow  of  the  tent.  He  had  gone  forth 
early,  saying — 

"  I  have  much  to  do  this  day,  Elcia.  A  man  must 
not  be  slothful,  staying  ever  with  the  women,  else  is  he 
abominable  in  the  sight  of  his  kinsmen  and  of  the  God 
of  his  fathers.  It  is  not  the  slothful  lover  of  women 
who  will  deliver  Israel  out  of  bondage.  The  God  of 
our  fathers  hath  indeed  set  upon  me  this  task,  to  aid 
in  the  deliverance  of  Israel.  For  He  hath  left  me 
lonely.  Other  men  have  children  to  call  them  within 
the  tent,  to  catch  them  by  the  hand  with  tenderness 
and  bid  '  father'  stay  when  they  rise  up  to  go  forth. 
But  our  tent  is  empty,  Elcia,  and  no  voice  calleth  mo 
father." 

She  answered  him  nothing,  for  her  heart  was  heavy 
within  her.  And  he,  coming  upon  Jediah,  said  to  him, 
with  bitterness — 

"  She  loveth  me  not,  Jediah." 

"Be  not  afraid,  Johanan,"  he  answered.  "Be  a 
strong  man  in  Israel,  and  she  will  surely  love  thee,  ay, 
and  worship  thee,  and  be  unto  thee  all  that  thou  canst 
desire." 

And  Johanan  said — 

"  Thinkest  thou  so  ?  Thou  speakest  truth  unto  me, 
thou  who  art  a  Judge  in  Israel  ?" 

Then  Jediah  smiled  and  answered — 

"  I  speak  truth.  But,  if  thou  wilt,  ask  some  other 
man  how  thou  shalt  keep  the  love  of  Elcia." 

And  Johanan  believed  Jediah,  and  went  his  way 
heavy-hearted. 

That  day  he  had  to  go  a  journey  with  his  camels,  to 

15 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

bear  a  debt  from  bis  father  to  tbe  tents  of  a  neighbour. 
He  would  not  return  until  the  sun  was  down.  Jediah 
knew  this,  and  that  the  caravan  that  went  this  day  to 
Babylon  would  be  gone,  and  even  far  towards  the  des- 
ert, ere  ever  Johanan  stood  again  in  his  tent-door  to 
call  his  wife  Elcia. 

"When  the  evening  drew  on,  but  while  the  sun  was 
not  yet  red  in  the  west  of  the  sky,  Jediah  went  with 
cautious  footsteps  to  the  thicket  of  palm-trees  that 
stood  beyond  the  well  of  Naomi.  It  was  here  that  he 
would  bid  good-bye  to  Blcia  and  speed  her  upon  her 
strange  and  lonely  journey  to  Babylon.  For  he  dared 
not  go  with  her  lest  suspicion  should  arise.  There  was 
no  one  in  the  thicket,  and  he  waited  a  long  time, 
listening  ever  for  the  footsteps  of  Elcia  that  came  not. 
While  he  waited,  anxiety  and  a  fierce  anger  grew 
within  his  soul.  If  she  should  not  come!  If  some 
sudden  weakness  of  resolution,  some  woman's  feeble- 
ness of  heart,  should  prompt  her  to  shrink  back  from 
his  persuading!  He  moved  restlessly,  pacing  about 
like  some  wild  beast  to  and  fro  upon  the  dry  ground, 
his  eyes  turned  ever  towards  the  well  of  Naomi,  or  to 
the  light  in  the  sky  that  betokened  the  approach  of 
the  sunset  hour.  The  caravan  would  soon  be  passing 
on  its  road  towards  the  desert.  And  she  came  not. 
He  passed  from  the  thicket  into  the  open  ground  about 
the  well. 

In  his  anger  he  was  resolved  to  go  to  the  tent  of 
Johanan,  but  ere  he  reached  the  well  he  saw,  far  off, 
the  shrouded  figure  of  a  woman  coming  towards  him, 
with  the  noble  bearing  that  set  Elcia  apart  from  all  the 

16 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

women  of  her  tribe.  As  she  drew  near  she  let  the 
garment  that  was  before  her  face  fall,  and  he  saw  that 
she  was  weeping.  When  they  were  among  the  palms, 
he  said  to  her — 

"  Why  art  thou  so  late,  my  Elcia  ?" 

"  I  feared  to  come,  Jediah." 

"  What  hast  thou  to  fear  ?  Am  I  not  with  thee  ? 
Shall  I  not  follow  thee  to  Babylon  ?" 

"  But  to  leave  all — this  place,  my  people,  the  well 
beside  which  I  dreamed  in  the  days  when — when 
Johanan " 

"  When  he  loved  thee.  Those  days  are  gone  for 
ever." 

She  put  forth  her  hand  as  one  that  is  wounded,  and 
from  her  lips  there  came  a  cry  of  pain. 

"  For  ever,"  repeated  Jediah.  "  Think  not  of  them. 
Put  them  behind  thee.  Think  of  the  days  that  are 
before.  Thou  shalt  see  the  wonders  of  that  city  which 
is  like  magic  to  men  when  they  dream  of  it.  Thou 
shalt  see  its  palaces,  its  towers,  and  the  great  river, 
even  Euphrates.  And  I  will  open  thine  eyes  to  love. 
And  perchance  thou  shalt  be  blest,  Elcia,  as  other 
women  are  blest,  even  in  the  bearing  of  children,  who 
shall  cling  to  thee  and  call  thee  by  the  sweet  name  of 
mother.  Yea,  I  will  open  thine  eyes  to  love,  and  give 
to  thee  all  that  a  woman  needeth  and  that  thou  hast 
lacked  so  long.  But  hark !"  He  lifted  his  hand  and 
listened.  Then  he  ascended  the  rising  land  beyond  the 
palms  to  a  place  from  which  he  could  see  a  great  way 
off. 

"  It  is  the  caravan,"  he  said,  returning.  "  I  see  it 
I7 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

like  a  long  shadow  on  the  plain.  I  hear  the  cries  of 
the  drivers  and  the  distant  noise  of  bells.  It  is  time 
for  thee  to  depart,  Elcia.  Thou  hast  thy  bundle. 
Here  is  gold.  Buy  all  that  thou  needest  in  Baby- 
lon, and  wait  me  in  the  house  that  I  have  told 
thee  of.  Fear  not.  In  no  long  time  I  will  be  with 
thee." 

She  answered  him  nothing.  For  again  the  dream 
floated  upon  her,  and  all  things  present  and  future 
seemed  unto  her  like  a  tale  told  on  a  dark  night.  And 
in  the  dark  night  she  perceived,  like  terrible  and  watch- 
ing eyes,  the  distant  lights  of  the  great  and  renowned 
city.  And  the  power  of  Jediah  lay  on  her  like  a  spell. 
She  had  no  will  to  resist  him,  but  bent  before  him  as 
before  a  sorcerer,  come  up  out  of  the  great  desert. 
Already  the  tents  of  her  people  seemed  to  lie  a  long 
way  off,  and  their  hymns  in  the  fields  were  like 
unto  dying  echoes.  And  the  well  of  Naomi  was  like 
unto  a  tender  thought  of  a  thing  that  existeth  no 
more. 

When  the  sun  was  set,  and  the  caravan  departed 
towards  the  desert,  there  was  a  woman  in  it  who  wept 
as  she  journeyed. 

In  the  darkness  of  night  Johanan  stood  in  the  door 
of  his  tent.  He  was  weary  with  the  heat  of  day  and 
with  long  travelling  across  the  shadowless  plains.  He 
stood  in  the  door  and  looked  into  the  tent.  The  moon 
was  up  in  the  clear  sky.  Its  light  streamed  into  the 
darkness,  illuminating  the  couch  where  each  night 
Elcia  laid  her  down  to  sleep.  And  the  eyes  of  Johanan 

18 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF   BABYLON 

turned  towards  this  spot  with  longing  to  see  if  the 
woman  he  loved  waked,  waiting  for  his  return.  There 
was  no  one  upon  the  couch.  The  tent  was  empty. 

Johanan  stood  still  for  a  moment  in  perplexity. 
The  hour  was  very  late.  No  one  was  stirring.  No 
women  were  about.  All  was  quiet.  There  was  scarce 
a  breath  of  the  wind  to  rustle  in  the  wide  leaves  of  the 
palms.  He  entered  into  the  tent,  thinking  that  perad- 
venture  his  eyes  tricked  him.  He  approached  the 
couch  and  bent  over  it.  No  one  was  there,  or  had  lain 
there  that  night.  Then  a  great  fear  came  to  his  heart, 
and  he  rushed  out  from  the  tent  into  the  night.  At 
first  he  had  a  wild  impulse  to  search  for  Elcia  among 
the  palms  and  by  the  water,  and  his  heart  was  alive 
with  jealousy.  He  hastened  on  like  a  man  drunk  with 
wine,  and  scarcely  knew  whither  he  went.  He  called 
aloud  in  the  night,  "Elcia,  Elcia,  where  art  thou?" 
But  no  voice  answered.  Then  he  paused,  and  tried  to 
think.  Could  she,  perchance,  have  wandered  forth, 
thinking  to  meet  him  on  his  returning  way  ?  Or  could 
she — and  his  heart  grew  cold — have  been  led  by  a 
dream  down  some  strange  path  in  sleep  ?  He  went  to 
and  fro,  seeking  her.  He  came  to  the  well  of  Naomi. 
The  moonlight  glittered  upon  the  water,  and  he  seemed 
to  see  Elcia's  face  there.  But  he  found  her  not.  Then 
he  bethought  him  of  his  friend  Jediah,  the  man  in 
whom  he  trusted ;  and  he  ran  to  Jediah's  tent  and 
found  him  wrapped  in  profound  slumber.  He  caught 
him  by  the  shoulders  and  waked  him. 

"  Jediah,"  he  said,  "  Jediah,  knowest  thou  aught  of 
Elcia?" 

19 


THE  DAUGHTERS  OF   BABYLON 

Jediah  gazed  at  him  with  eyes  that  seemed  heavy 
with  sleep. 

"Elcia?"  he  asked,  in  the  drowsy,  inward  voice  of 
tired  men.  "  Elcia  ?  What  should  I  know  of  her  ?  Is 
she  not  thy  wife  and  in  thy  tent  ?" 

"  She  is  not  in  the  tent.  And  it  is  deep  night.  Oh, 
Jediah,  what  evil  hath  befallen  me  ?" 

Jediah  rose  up  from  his  couch. 

"  Elcia  is  not  with  thee  ?"  he  said. 

"Nay.  I  returned  but  now  from  my  journey,  and 
when  I  stood  in  my  tent-door  she  was  not  within.  I 
have  called  on  her.  I  have  sought  her.  Whither  is 
she  gone,  Jediah  ?" 

And  he  trembled  in  all  his  limbs,  and  seemed  likely 
to  fall. 

"  I  know  not,"  Jediah  answered.  "  This  is  a  strange 
thing,  Johanan.  Did'st  thou  part  from  her  in  anger 
when  thou  setted'st  forth  ?" 

"Nay,  but  I  spoke  to  her  of  our  unblessed  union, 
and  I  did  show  unto  her  how  sore  was  my  heart  that 
we  were  ever  childless.  Ah,  it  was  cruelly  done  1  Oh, 
Elcia!  Elcia!" 

"Let  us  seek  her,  Johanan.  Let  us  seek  her  to- 
gether," said  Jediah.  And  he  wrapped  himself  in  his 
garment,  and  they  went  out  into  the  night. 


20 


CHAPTEK  II. 

ABOVE  the  great  plain  in  which  lay  the  mighty  city 
of  Babylon  the  sun  blazed  almost  cruelly  in  a  sky  that 
seemed  made  of  brass,  pitiless,  fierce,  and  hard.  It  was 
nearly  noontide,  and  across  the  plain,  beyond  the  huge 
walls  which  enclosed  the  city,  a  caravan  travelled 
slowly  towards  the  western  gate.  The  long  lines  of 
camels,  heavily  laden  with  merchandise  of  spice  and  of 
ivory,  of  perfumed  oils,  of  alabaster  and  of  fine  linen, 
moved  onward  with  a  fatigued  and  grotesque  gait, 
snarling  in  the  sultry  heat,  and,  with  heavy  and  irri- 
table eyes,  gazing  askance  at  the  Nubians,  who  drove 
them  forward.  Eound  about  them  hovered  swarms  of 
flies,  which  buzzed  incessantly,  and,  alighting  upon 
them  in  thousands,  crept  towards  their  eyelids,  as  if 
drawn  thither  by  a  magnet.  The  drivers  called  to 
each  other  as  they  ran,  and  cracked  the  stout  thongs 
of  the  whips  they  carried.  And  as  the  caravan  ap- 
proached the  city  and  the  mighty  palaces  standing 
upon  lofty  platforms  of  brickwork,  the  temples  and 
the  endless  rows  of  dwelling-houses  came  more  clearly 
to  the  view,  an  excitement  dawned  in  the  faces  of 
those  who  accompanied  the  caravan. 

Dark-eyed  traders,  swinging  to  the  movement  of 
the  dromedaries,  spoke  together  of  the  fabulous  wealth 
of  the  city,  of  the  huge  sums  given  by  its  citizens  for 
the  pleasures  that  made  glad  their  hearts,  of  the  lavish 

21 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

extravagance  of  its  women,  who  walked  in  the  hanging 
gardens  loaded  with  rare  jewels,  having  their  hair 
bound  with  bands  of  heavy  gold  and  their  fingers 
covered  with  rings,  while  their  long  robes,  embroid- 
ered in  a  thousand  hues,  rustled  till  the  scented  air 
was  filled  with  music  to  wake  the  souls  of  men. 
Within  those  gigantic  walls  that  stretched  for  miles 
were  surely  hoarded  riches  such  as  the  world  had 
never  known  before  in  all  its  history — pearls  brought 
from  the  fisheries  of  Bahreim,  and  perchance  from 
the  deep  waters  of  Ceylon ;  ebony  and  frankincense, 
bronze  and  gold,  glimmering  silks  and  odorous  cedar, 
cottons  dyed  the  hues  of  all  the  birds,  ivory  smooth  as 
the  cheek  of  a  maiden  and  hard  as  the  heart  of  a 
warrior  when  he  goeth  forth  into  battle ;  the  skins  of 
all  beasts,  and  gems  glittering  with  a  light  inhuman. 

Within  those  walls  stood  palaces  like  cities,  where 
instruments  of  music  sounded  in  the  drowsy  noontide 
and  in  the  silver  night,  where  the  wine-cup,  chased 
with  gold  and  set  with  turquoises,  passed  from  hand 
to  hand,  where  the  torches  shed  their  fire  on  the  dark- 
ness and  the  slave  girls  leaped  and  danced  beside  the 
couches  of  their  masters.  All  things  were  bought  and 
sold  in  those  streets  and  alleys :  the  wood  cut  in  the 
forests  of  Assyria  and  the  women  brought  from  far, 
weeping,  in  the  inexorable  caravans;  bricks,  beams, 
and  doors  for  twelve  manehs  of  silver ;  oxen  and  asses, 
statues  of  the  great  god  Bel,  charms  against  evil  fates 
and  against  mysterious  maladies,  artabs  of  corn  and 
shields  of  copper,  chariots  wrought  in  bronze,  coats 
of  mail,  and  tablets  of  brick.  There  the  hucksters 

22 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

cried  their  wares.  There  lurked  the  sorcerers  in  their 
mysterious  dwellings,  and  the  singing  women  chanted 
upon  the  walls,  and  the  watchmen  looked  forth  from 
the  towers.  There,  too,  in  the  midst  of  a  thousand 
pleasures,  did  the  learned  men,  whose  fame  trav- 
elled far  to  the  four  winds  and  to  the  four  corners  of 
the  world,  pursue  their  endless  studies.  The  grave 
astronomers  lived,  like  strange  birds,  high  up  among 
those  stars  whose  faces  they  knew  as  a  man  knoweth 
the  face  of  a  friend.  The  sculptors  toiled,  bringing  a 
beautiful  and  lifeless  life  to  the  hard  substances  that 
they  loved.  The  librarians  muttered  together  of  the 
thoughts  of  men,  that  should  be  recorded  for  the 
observation  of  the  heedless  and  of  those  who  know 
not  how  to  think.  The  mathematicians  lost  them- 
selves in  calculations,  treading  the  mazes  of  a  crafty 
region  where  only  the  clearest  mind  could  go  at  ease. 
The  irrigators  planned  the  wanderings  of  artificial 
rivers,  and  the  law-givers  watched  over  the  destinies 
of  the  uninstructed,  and  the  quick-eyed  men  leaned 
over  the  tiny  gems,  engraving  them  with  tools  scarce 
visible,  and  the  artists  painted,  and  the  weaver  bent 
above  his  weaving.  There,  in  sombre  laboratories,  the 
men  of  the  healing  art  combined  their  potions,  and 
apart  in  their  silent  houses  the  omen-givers  drew  up 
their  treatises  of  divination,  their  tables  of  dreams, 
their  lists  of  the  meanings  of  those  creatures  that  a 
traveller  meets  when  on  his  journey.  If  a  blue  dog 
enters  a  palace,  that  palace  will  be  burned.  If  a  dog 
goes  to  a  palace  and  lies  down  upon  a  bed,  that  pal- 
ace none  with  his  hand  will  take.  If  a  man  dreameth 

23 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

of  bright  fire,  there  will  surely  be  fire  in  his  dwelling- 
place.  If  a  sheep  bears  a  lion,  the  King  of  Babylon 
will  have  no  rival.  And  there  the  children  cooed  and 
played  among  bright  flowers,  and  the  processions  of 
Bel  went  by  with  the  sounding  of  flutes  and  of  cym- 
bals, and  the  scattering  of  the  wine-red  petals  of  roses. 
And  the  priests  abased  themselves  before  the  statues 
of  the  gods — of  Merodach,  who  smote  the  dragon; 
Tihamter,  and  Anu,  god  of  the  sky ;  and  Makhir,  the 
god  of  dreams ;  and  Adar,  and  Ana,  god  of  heaven. 
And  there  histories  were  inscribed  in  clay,  and  the  men 
passed  through  the  ways  carrying  seals  upon  their 
wrists,  and  hymns  were  sung  to  the  seven  wicked 
spirits,  and  at  gateways,  chased  with  fine  gold,  the 
eunuchs  lay  asleep.  There  human  beings  swarmed  like 
flies  ;  drovers  and  masons,  shepherds  and  soldiers,  car- 
penters and  builders  of  houses,  poets  and  bankers, 
scribes  and  silversmiths.  And  there  was  the  sound  of 
music  by  night  and  day.  And  through  the  mighty  city 
flowed  the  great  river  Euphrates,  on  whose  shining 
bosom  floated  the  daring  navigators  and  merchants 
from  far  countries,  borne  along  on  rafts  of  skins,  or 
in  boats  fashioned  of  reeds  and  covered  with  bitumen. 
Grandiose  was  this  city  and  grandiose  its  river.  Men 
held  their  breath  as  they  approached  it.  Women  wept 
from  the  fear  of  it,  or  extended  their  longing  arms  to 
its  fierce  and  complex  charms.  The  voices  of  it  clam- 
oured to  the  skies,  and  the  hearts  of  it  beat  like  the 
beating  in  the  world's  heart.  Its  laughter  was  like 
the  laughter  of  the  gods,  and  its  songs  were  like  the 
choruses  of  the  morning  stars.  And  its  wonder  was 

24 


more  great  than  the  wonder  of  all  lands.  And  its  ter- 
ror surpassed  the  terror  of  the  deep  places  beyond  the 
mountains. 

Even  men  of  hardest  nature  were  moved  deep  in 
their  souls  as  they  approached  Babylon,  and  in  this 
caravan,  now  travelling  towards  the  western  gate  of 
the  city,  were  two  who  spoke  together  but  little,  though 
they  were  companions,  though — as  one  believed — they 
were  even  friends.  For  among  the  travellers,  coming 
thus  in  the  noontide  to  Babylon,  were  Jediah  and 
Johanan.  Strange  was  it  that  they  should  be  together. 
It  had  fallen  out  in  this  wise.  When  the  search  for 
Elcia  was  all  in  vain,  Johanan  was  well-nigh  distraught 
with  jealousy  and  with  despair.  Now  he  thought  his 
wife  dead  in  some  hidden  place  j  now  he  believed  her 
fled  from  him  with  some  man  who  loved  her.  And  when 
he  could  nowhere  find  her,  he  bethought  him  of  the 
wicked  city  Babylon,  and  that,  perchance,  she  had  fled 
thither  to  find  safe  hiding  among  its  teeming  crowds. 
He  told  his  thought  to  Jediah,  and  Jediah  an- 
swered— 

"  It  may  be  so.  As  thou  knowest,  I  am  thy  friend. 
Stay  thou  here,  for,  peradventure,  Elcia  may  return  in 
sorrow  to  greet  thee,  and  I  will  go  up  to  Babylon  to 
seek  her  there." 

"  Nay,"  said  Johanan,  "  but  I  will  come  with  thee. 
We  will  go  together,  and  surely  we  shall  find  her 
there." 

He  held  Jediah  hard  by  the  hand  and  looked  into 
his  eyes,  as  if  for  hope  and  consolation.  But  Jediah 
cast  down  his  eyes  and  answered — 

25 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF   BABYLON 

"  Had'st  thou  not  better  stay  by  the  tent  ?  It  is  far 
to  Babylon,  and  why  should  Elcia  be  gone  thither,  if, 
indeed,  she  liveth  still." 

And  as  he  spoke  the  words  he  was  seized  by  a  great 
terror,  which  seemed  to  shake  his  very  soul,  even  as 
the  leaf  of  a  tree  is  shaken  by  the  wild  winds  of  the 
autumn  time  that  come  out  of  the  desolate  heart  of 
the  desert.  If  his  sin  should  be  discovered!  If  his 
black  deed  should  be  known !  What  then  would  be 
his  fate  ?  He,  Judge  and  Lord  in  Israel — he,  Jediah, 
son  of  Zoar,  whom  all  men  respected — would  be  stoned 
with  stones  until  he  lay  dead  before  his  father  and  his 
brethren.  And  a  dream  of  horror  came  upon  him 
and  enwrapped  him,  until  he  was  like  unto  one  who 
walketh  in  darkness  and  in  the  night,  companioned  by 
a  spectre  that  leadeth  him  into  the  dreadful  places  of 
the  earth  and  unto  the  dwellings  of  the  damned. 

"  Better  she  were  dead  than  alive  in  sin,"  Johanan 
said,  with  bitterness.  "  But,  Jediah,  something  telleth 
me  that  she  is  indeed  in  Babylon,  and  that  thou  and  I 
shall  find  her  there." 

"  Thou  shalt  never  find  her,  if  I  have  to  slay  thee  to 
close  those  eyes  of  thine,"  muttered  Jediah,  beneath 
his  breath. 

He  feared  deeply  the  presence  of  Johanan  in  Baby- 
lon. Yet  he  dared  not  let  him  go  thither  alone.  For, 
alone,  he  might  indeed  come  upon  Elcia. 

So  it  came  about  that  Jediah,  unable  to  dissuade 
Johanan  from  his  purpose,  was  at  last  resolute  to 
accompany  him  to  the  city ;  and  thus  the  betrayer  and 
the  betrayed  now  entered  in  at  the  western  gate  as 

26 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

friends,  the  one  stern  to  hide  that  woman  whom  the 
other  was  so  deeply  purposed  to  find. 

As  they  passed  beneath  the  mighty  gateway  and 
entered  at  length  fully  into  the  teeming  life  of  the 
city,  they  gazed  about  them  with  curious  and  almost 
awestruck  eyes.  The  streets  cut  each  other  at  right 
angles,  and  the  houses,  built  of  bricks  painted  in  bright 
colours,  were  tall  and  massive  and  of  an  exceeding 
solidity.  Even  the  lowest  of  them  was  at  the  least 
three  storeys  in  height.  Close  by  the  entrance  of  the 
city  were  gardens  and  orchards,  groves  of  palms,  and 
even  patches  of  land  on  which  the  corn  was  growing. 
All  this  within  the  walls.  Here  and  there  the  land 
was  intersected  by  broad  canals,  and  here  and  there  it 
rose  in  artificial  hills,  so  artfully  constructed  that  it 
seemed  as  if  Nature  herself  had  lifted  them  towards 
the  sun.  Upon  the  houses  by  which  the  caravan  now 
passed,  slowly  threading  its  way  among  the  swarming 
crowds  who  jostled  it,  were  many  paintings  on  stucco, 
chiefly  figures  of  men  and  of  animals.  Some  of  them 
seemed  to  be  in  action.  Some  struck  strange  attitudes 
expressive  of  the  emotions.  The  cornices  of  these 
mansions,  which  belonged  to  the  wealthy  Babylonians, 
were  decorated  with  bronze,  some  even  with  alabaster 
and  with  bright  gold.  Before  the  walls  were  many 
gardens  and  plantations,  and  beneath  the  trees  stood 
seats  and  small  tables  at  which  the  owners  ate  when 
the  weather  was,  as  at  present,  hot  and  fine.  Jediah 
and  Johanan  perceived  some  Babylonish  families  thus 
enjoying  the  air  beneath  the  shade,  the  while  slaves 
agitated  gigantic  fans  to  keep  away  the  swarming 

27 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

insects  that  buzzed  and  flew  on  all  hands.  These 
gardens  and  small  plantations  were  irrigated  by  tiny 
rivulets,  fed  by  water  that  was  drawn  in  buckets  and 
poured  heedfully  into  them  by  slaves.  Along  these 
rivulets  grew  vegetables,  much  garlic,  also  onions  and 
a  sort  of  cabbage.  Upon  the  tables  beneath  the  palms 
stood  large  vases  filled  with  bright-coloured  flowers. 

But  now  the  sights  of  the  streets  attracted  and 
filled  their  eyes.  Men  and  women  buzzed,  even  as  the 
insects  in  the  gardens,  various  in  appearance,  in  man- 
ner, and,  most  of  all,  strangely  various  in  attire. 
Some  among  them  wore  but  one  garment  and  that 
a  short  one,  but  others  were  richly  and  elaborately 
dressed  in  materials  made  in  Babylon,  or  in  muslins 
and  other  fabrics  imported  from  India.  They  were 
robed  in  tunics  of  wool,  or,  sometimes,  of  linen,  fast- 
ened by  girdles  and  reaching  to  the  thigh.  Above 
this  was  a  long  and  graceful  robe,  without  sleeves  and 
richly  fringed,  opening  in  front  and  exposing,  as  the 
wearer  walked,  the  inner  side  of  the  left  leg.  Upon 
the  head  was  a  thick,  quilted  tiara,  or  a  species  of  hel- 
met, peaked  and  projecting  forward  above  the  fore- 
head. It  was,  in  some  cases,  ornamented  with  ribands 
shaped  into  the  form  of  horns.  Above  the  heads  of 
many  were  spread  large  parasols  to  keep  away  the 
sun's  rays,  and  from  the  wrists  of  the  men  hung  seals. 
Those  that  were  priests  were  attired  in  flounced  robes 
falling  to  the  feet,  and  carried  upon  their  shoulders 
the  skin  of  the  sacred  goat.  The  women  wore  ear- 
rings, necklaces,  and  bracelets  of  gold  or  silver;  so 
also  did  many  of  the  men,  who  went  mostly  barefoot, 

28 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

though  some  were  shod  with  sandals,  and  one  or  two 
with  shoes  of  soft  leather.  The  water-sellers  beat 
their  cups,  and  the  sellers  of  sweetmeats  —  round 
whom  gathered  the  children— cried  in  high  voices 
their  wares.  Here  and  there  amid  the  throng  a  sol- 
dier passed,  clad  in  kilt  and  skullcap,  or  a  dandy, 
whose  hair  and  beard,  long  and  flowing,  were  care- 
fully curled  and  drenched  with  strong  essences.  Cav- 
alry soldiers,  in  tightly  fitting  breeches  fashioned 
of  plaited  leather  and  high  boots,  rode  by  mounted 
upon  magnificent  horses  with  streaming  manes  and 
tails.  Their  coloured  saddles  gleamed  in  the  sun- 
shine, and  their  martial  bearing  drew  cries  of 
admiration  from  the  women  who  leaned  out  from 
the  windows.  Beggars  and  dogs  swarmed  on  all 
sides.  The  blind,  reckless  of  their  infirmity,  scram- 
bled under  the  very  feet  of  the  camels  and  asses. 
The  poor  stretched  out  their  filthy  hands,  shriek- 
ing for  alms.  The  cripples  lay  on  the  door-steps, 
demonstrating  their  diseases  and  discovering  their 
sores.  Here  went  by  a  man  wrapped  in  the  snakes 
he  charmed,  there  a  miracle-worker  bearing  his 
little  boxes,  his  cups,  and  wands.  A  sand-diviner 
called  to  the  crowd  to  learn  their  destinies,  a  maniac 
gibbered  and  sprang  beneath  a  yellow  wall  in  the  sun 
glare.  An  old  man,  pale  and  malignant  of  counte- 
nance and  girt  with  a  black  girdle,  played  upon  a  pale- 
green  pipe  beneath  a  palm-tree,  and  round  his  feet 
danced  little  boys  in  fluttering  white  garments.  A 
throng  of  sheep,  bleating  to  the  shambles,  mingled 
their  hoarse  voices  with  the  lowing  of  a  herd  of  oxen 

29 


THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

being  driven  to  the  city  gate.  And  not  only  were  the 
streets  full  of  Babylonians,  born  within  the  walls  of 
Babylon  or  come  there  from  the  neighbouring  plains, 
but  among  the  crowd  might  be  discovered  men  from 
all  the  nations  of  the  earth,  lured  thither  by  the  great- 
ness of  the  place,  by  its  pleasures,  by  its  glory,  and, 
most  especially,  by  its  vast  trade.  At  this  period  it 
was,  in  fact,  at  the  height  of  its  renown.  Its  luxury 
was  immoderate.  Its  debauchery  surpassed  concep- 
tion. In  Babylon  men  gave  their  lives  to  joy  as  a 
child  gives  a  flower  to  the  dust.  Women  yielded  their 
souls  to  the  passing  hours.  Effeminacy,  bred  of  too 
great  civilisation,  already  began  to  increase  upon  the 
growing  youths.  The  sun  looked  down  upon  a  riot  of 
pleasure  such  as  the  world  had  never  seen.  And  at 
night,  when  the  moon  stole  up  above  the  mighty 
palaces,  the  monstrous  walls,  and  the  great  brick 
towers,  and  the  hanging  gardens  and  the  wondrous 
temple  of  the  god  Bel,  it  shone  upon  strange  scenes  of 
ecstasy  and  of  sorrow,  of  wild,  even  of  frantic  dissipa- 
tion, and  of  profound  superstition.  For  the  people  of 
Babylon,  reckless  in  their  sins,  cowered  like  children 
before  the  predictions  of  a  begging  prophet,  or  the 
whispering  voice  of  a  dream,  and  gave  vast  sums  to 
propitiate  the  gods,  before  whose  altars  they  sank  in 
abasement,  after  orgies  whose  violence  echoed,  surely, 
to  the  distant  gates  of  heaven. 

The  two  Israelites,  Jediah  and  Johanan,  were  in 
amaze  at  the  thronging  people  in  the  streets,  at  the 
cries  and  the  music,  and  at  the  mighty  buildings,  and 
presently  Johanan  said — 

30 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF   BABYLON 

"  If  Elcia  be  here,  Jediah,  how  shall  we  come  upon 
her?  For  here  men  are  as  the  sands  of  the  sea,  and 
the  women  cannot  be  numbered.  Yet,  while  I  have 
eyes  to  see  and  feet  to  walk  upon,  will  I  seek  her." 

Even  as  he  spoke,  a  blind  man,  tottering  upon  a 
heavy  stick  of  brown  wood,  held  forth  his  hand,  cry- 
ing with  a  sad  voice — 

«  Help  the  blind !" 

Jediah  looked  down  upon  him  and  then  at  Johanan, 
and  he  answered  slowly — 

"  Thou  wilt  seek  her,  thou  sayest,  while  that  thou 
hast  eyes  to  see.  That  is  well,  Johanan.  Surely,  if 
she  be  indeed  here,  she  shall  not  escape  thee." 

Then  he  spoke  no  more  until  they  reached  a  wide 
space  of  ground,  where  the  caravan  stopped  to  unload 
the  camels  and  to  pitch  the  tents  for  the  drivers  and 
for  the  owners.  There  they  must  set  forth  to  seek  a 
lodging  for  the  night.  Johanan,  who  was  possessed 
by  but  one  thought,  had  no  care  for  himself.  He 
gazed  ever  around  him,  examining  the  faces  of  all  who 
passed  by.  And  he  cried  unto  Jediah, — 

"  Seek  thou  a  lodging,  Jediah.  I  will  go  forth  into 
the  street.  Peradventure  I  may  meet  Elcia.  At  sun- 
down I  will  come  hither  again  to  find  thee.  Farewell, 
oh  my  friend." 

And  he  turned  away  and  mingled  with  the  crowd 
that  had  gathered  to  see  the  coming  of  the  caravan. 

Jediah  looked  after  him  as  he  went,  muttering  in  his 
beard — 

"Help  the  blind!" 

Then  he  too  turned  to  go  his  way  to  the  house 

31 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

where  Blcia  lodged.  This  was  not  in  the  wealthier 
quarter  of  the  city,  among  the  palaces  of  the  great 
and  the  temples  of  the  mighty  gods,  but  near  the  east- 
ern wall,  where  stood  many  small  and  poor-looking 
houses,  at  the  base  of  one  of  the  artificial  hills  reared 
by  the  Babylonians  to  break  the  monotony  of  the  flat 
plain  in  which  the  city  lay.  As  he  passed  upon  his 
road,  thinking  deeply, — for  he  was  in  most  strange 
circumstances, — he  came  presently  to  a  street  that  lay 
at  a  higher  level.  In  this  street  were  many  Babylo- 
nians offering  their  wares  for  sale — carpet  merchants, 
sellers  of  embroideries  and  of  dyed  stuffs,  of  perfumes, 
amulets,  sandals,  and  bronzes.  Among  them  was  a 
god-seller,  who  cried  with  a  loud  voice — 

"  Come  hither,  ye  who  would  buy  gods — buy  them 
of  me !  I  sell  the  cheapest  gods  in  Babylon.  Mero- 
dach,  the  general  of  all  gods ;  he  who  can  cure  witch- 
craft and  brain-sickness  for  one  shekel !  Ana,  god  of 
heaven,  and  Anatu,  his  consort,  for  two  shekels.  Bel, 
the  great  god  Bel,  who  ruleth  the  evil  of  the  south- 
west wind — who  will  give  a  shekel  for  Bel  ?  Bel,  who 
alone  hath  power  to  dispel  the  seven  evil  spirits  who 
seize  the  body,  who  bring  wastings  and  fevers,  sickness 
of  the  head,  sickness  of  the  heart,  sickness  of  terror ; 
the  ruler  of  the  seven !  Who  will  buy  him  for  only 
one  shekel  ?  Only  one  shekel  for  the  great  god  Bel !" 

There  were  some  women  passing  in  the  crowd,  and 
as  Jediah,  contemptuous  of  this  superstition,  like  all 
Israelites,  paused  to  listen  to  the  loud  cry  of  the  god- 
seller,  one  of  them  stopped  and  said — 

"Wilt  thou  sell  me  Bel  for  half  a  shekel?" 

32 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Sell  the  great  god  Bel  for  half  a  shekel !"  cried  the 
huckster,  making  wild  gestures  of  extravagant  horror 
and  surprise.  "  Nay,  may  the  accursed  seven  seize  me 
if  I  will  sell  him  for  less  than  a  whole  shekel !" 

"  But  a  whole  shekel  is  food  for  a  week,"  replied  the 
woman  doubtfully. 

"  The  great  god  Bel  cures  hunger  for  all  time." 

"But  will  he  make  my  husband  true  unto  me?" 
asked  the  woman,  gazing  at  the  little  effigy  of  the 
god,  which  the  huckster  displayed  most  temptingly 
before  her. 

"  There  is  no  god  like  Bel  for  making  husbands  true," 
said  the  man,  with  a  crafty  smile. 

"  Then  I  will  even  take  him,"  said  the  woman 
eagerly.  "  Here  is  my  shekel." 

"  And  here  is  the  great  god  Bel,"  cried  the  huckster, 
as  he  took  the  money  and  handed  to  her  the  image. 

Another  woman  who  was  standing  near  now  ap- 
proached and  said,  in  a  low  voice — 

"  If  indeed  Bel  keep  husbands  time,  I  too  will  buy 
him ;  but  I  would  be  sure,  and,  knowing  my  husband,  I 
will  buy  two  of  the  great  god  Bel.  For,  of  a  surety,  it 
will  take  more  than  one  to  keep  him  faithful." 

"  Thou  art  a  wise  woman,  and  will  prosper,"  said  the 
god-seller,  making  the  exchange. 

"  Come,  child,"  said  the  woman  to  her  little  one,  who 
was  clinging  to  her  robe  with  one  tiny  hand. 

"May  not  I  too  have  the  great  god  Bel,  my 
mother  ?" 

"  Nay,  but  thou  may'st  share  mine  until  thou  gettest 
a  husband  for  thyself." 

3  33 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  But,  my  mother,  I  cannot  get  a  husband  until  I  get 
a  lover."  And,  turning  to  the  god-seller,  she  lisped — 

"  Will  the  great  god  Bel  bring  me  a  lover  ?" 

"  Nay,  child,"  he  replied, "  he  is  too  busy  watching  the 
husbands.  If  thou  would' st  have  one  to  love  thee,  buy 
the  goddess  of  all  love,  Ishtar." 

"  But  what  is  her  price  ?" 

"  Two  shekels  for  Ishtar." 

"  And  I  have  but  half  a  shekel." 

"  Will  not  thy  mother " 

"  Nay,  nay,"  answered  the  mother  decidedly. 

"  Then,"  said  the  god-seller,  "  shalt  thou  have  her  for 
thy  half  skekel ;  but,  in  thy  supplications  to  her,  tell 
her  thou  did'st  pay  her  full  price.  Else  will  she  be 
angry  and  reject  thy  prayers." 

The  child  took  the  goddess  eagerly,  and  she  and  her 
mother  moved  on  down  the  crowded  street,  worship- 
ping their  images  and  breathing  prayers  to  them. 

Jediah,  who  had  watched  the  scene  with  a  smile  of 
contempt,  muttered  to  himself — 

"  If  the  great  god  Bel  could  make  husbands  faithless ! 
Ay,  if  Johanan  could  forget  Elcia  with  these  women 
of  Babylon,  then  would  I  too  be  like  unto  these  people 
of  superstition." 

He  regarded  the  god-seller  for  a  moment,  and  the 
man,  an  evil-looking  creature,  catching  his  eye,  ex- 
tended towards  him  the  reed  pannier,  full  of  images, 
and  began  to  cry  aloud  their  merits  and  their  powers. 

But  Jediah  turned  away  and  passed  on  into  the 
crowd,  seeking  the  dwelling  of  Elcia. 


34 


CHAPTEE  III. 

ELCIA  was  housed,  for  the  moment,  near  the  eastern 
gate  of  Babylon,  from  which  departed  the  caravans 
which  travelled  along  the  great  road  leading  from 
Sardis  to  Susa.  Here  passed  by  incessantly  camels, 
oxen  and  asses,  and  mules  drawing  carts  and  waggons 
loaded  with  all  descriptions  of  merchandise.  And  the 
cries  of  the  drivers,  the  merchants,  and  the  traders 
made  a  continual  music  that  seemed  to  reach  the  skies. 
They  travelled  far  away,  from  caravanserai  to  caravan- 
serai, to  take  unto  other  lands  the  exports  of  Babylon, 
the  marvellous  carpets, — celebrated  through  all  the 
world, — the  silks  and  the  fabrics  of  wool,  broidered 
cunningly  and  woven  with  strange  designs  and  with 
figures  of  mythic  animals,  the  richly  coloured  Sindones 
and  garments  of  all  kinds,  also  cylinders  and  many 
gems  most  curiously  engraved. 

With  some  difficulty  Jediah  made  his  way  through 
the  thronged  and  noisy  thoroughfares  till  he  came  to 
the  dwelling  where  he  thought  to  find  Elcia.  It  stood 
a  little  back  from  the  public  path,  and  was  built  of 
bricks  soldered  together  with  white  clay.  The  walls 
were  pierced  with  very  small  windows,  and  in  front  of 
the  house  stood  two  or  three  meagre  palm-trees,  whose 
great  leaves,  yellow  around  the  edges,  looked  brittle 
and  ready  to  crack  under  the  fierce  rays  of  the  sun. 
Upon  the  door  of  this  dwelling  Jediah  struck  with  his 

35 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

staff,  and  in  a  moment  an  elderly  man,  dressed  in  a 
long  garment  of  wool,  that  flowed  nearly  to  his  feet, 
came  and  opened  to  him.  Jediah  was  about  to  ask  if 
Elcia  was  within,  when  she,  who  had,  indeed,  been 
watching  anxiously  from  the  house,  came  hurriedly  to 
him,  crying — 

"  Jediah,  Jediah  !  art  thou  here  at  last  ?" 

He  took  her  swiftly  by  the  arm  and  drew  her  from 
the  door,  glancing  behind  him  as  he  did  so. 

"  Thou  must  not  be  seen,"  he  whispered.  "  Knowest 
thou  that  I  have  journeyed  hither  with  thy  hus- 
band ?" 

The  cheek  of  Elcia  grew  pale,  and  she  seemed  like  to 
fall. 

"  With  Johanan  ?"  she  murmured. 

"  Even  so.  He  careth  not  for  thee,  but  he  is  wroth 
at  thy  going.  And  he  seeketh  thee  now  to  kill  thee. 
Have  a  care !" 

For  Elcia  had  stumbled  upon  the  door-sill,  and  now 
swayed  forward  and  must  have  swooned  upon  the 
ground  had  not  Jediah  sustained  her.  She  was  trem- 
bling as  in  a  spasm  of  deadly  fear  as  he  laid  her  down 
upon  the  divan  which  ran  round  the  room. 

"  Be  not  afraid,  Elcia,"  he  said,  "  for  I  am  with  thee, 
and  Johanan  shall  not  find  thee.  He  shall  go  back  to 
the  tents  of  our  people  and  to  the  well  of  Naomi  even 
as  he  has  come.  There  shall  be  no  blood  upon  his 
hands.  Fear  nothing." 

But  in  his  heart  he  said,  "  Shall  Johanan  indeed  go 
back?  Shall  he  indeed  ever  see  again  the  tents  of  his 
people  and  Naomi's  well  ?" 

36 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

And  he  thought  of  the  god-seller  with  his  face  full 
of  the  shadow  of  evil  things,  who  stood  at  the  street 
corner  with  his  basket  of  images.  In  this  dim  and 
poorly  furnished  room  he  seemed  to  see  the  man,  short, 
broad,  with  thick  eyebrows  meeting  above  his  nose, 
and  long  pointed  teeth  that  stuck  out  when  he  smiled 
upon  the  superstitious  Babylonian  women.  Why  did 
the  vision  come  to  him  ?  For  he  desired  no  image  of 
the  great  god  Bel.  But  for  the  moment  he  put  the 
thought  from  him,  turning  to  Elcia,  whose  beauty  re- 
vived in  his  heart  the  passion  that  was  to  lead  him  on 
so  strange  a  journey.  She  had  opened  her  great  eyes, 
but  her  fair  body  was  still  shaken  by  a  spasm,  and  she 
repeated,  with  white  lips — 

"  Johanan — Johanan  here  with  thee  in  Babylon !" 

Jediah  endeavoured  to  calm  her  with  fair  words. 

"  I  swear  to  thee,  Elcia,"  he  said,  "  that  within  three 
days  thy  husband  shall  be  where  he  can  never  set  his 
eyes  on  thy  sweet  face  again." 

"  But  where,  then,  will  he  go  ?  Nay,  if  he  be  come 
hither,  he  will  not  depart.  How  knoweth  he  that  I  am 
indeed  in  Babylon  ?" 

"  He  knoweth  it  not ;  it  is  but  his  fancy.  When  he 
hath  searched  in  the  public  ways  and  findeth  thee  not, 
he  will  surely  lose  courage  and  will  depart." 

"  And  he  will  take  tbee  with  him,  Jediah.  Is  it  not 
so?  Ah,  why  came  I  hither?  Why  did  I  leave  the 
tents  and  my  people  to  seek  this  strange  and  terrible 
city,  where  the  men  look  so  cruelly  on  women,  and 
where  the  noise  of  voices  is  as  the  noise  of  the  sea,  or 
of  the  wind  that  bringeth  the  sand  out  of  the  desert ! 

37 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

I  am  unhappy  here.  I  thought  that  thou  would'st 
never  come." 

And  she  clung  to  him  like  a  child  that  is  afraid  in 
the  night. 

He  embraced  her,  saying — 

"  Trust  in  me,  Elcia.  I  will  not  leave  thee,  and  Jo- 
hanan  shall  not  set  eyes  on  thee  again.  Have  no  fear. 
Do  not  1  love  thee  ?" 

Then  she  rested  in  his  arms  and  dried  her  tears. 
But  ever,  as  she  listened  to  the  voices  of  the  Babylo- 
nians without,  and  to  the  snarling  of  the  camels,  the 
rumbling  of  the  waggons  towards  the  great  highway 
in  the  plains,  and  the  cries  and  vociferations  of  the 
traders  and  drovers,  there  was  terror  in  her  heart. 
This  world  was  strange  to  her,  and  seemed  as  if  it 
would  take  her  to  itself  to  keep  her  for  ever  and  to  do 
her  injury. 

But  Jediah  was  a  man,  strong,  even  though  with  a 
strength  unholy,  bold  with  women,  and  unyielding  of 
purpose.  He  held  Elcia  fast  in  his  arms,  and  he  whis- 
pered away  the  sounds  of  the  city,  the  cries  of  those 
without,  even,  for  a  moment,  the  terror  in  the  soul  of 
Elcia.  He  taught  her  forgetfulness  as  the  twilight 
stole  along  the  ways  among  the  tall  houses.  She  gave  up 
her  lips  to  his  lips.  She  yielded  herself  to  his  passion. 

At  the  sunset  hour  Jediab  left  her  and  went  forth 
to  return  to  the  caravan  to  find  Johanan.  He  passed 
again  the  god-seller  on  his  way.  The  man  recognised 
him,  and,  turning  from  the  women  who  were  round 
about,  intent  on  the  buying  of  charms  and  gods,  he 
said  to  Jediah — 

38 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Cannot  I  do  anything  for  thee,  stranger?" 

"  Nay,"  said  Jediah,  "  not  to-day." 

"To-morrow,  then,  stranger;  I  will  see  thee  to- 
morrow. I  have  many  things  that  will  please  thee." 

"To-morrow,  perchance,"  Jediah  answered,  looking 
into  his  crafty  eyes  as  one  that  searcheth  for  the  soul. 
"  To-morrow." 

And  he  went  on  his  way,  thinking  deeply,  while  the 
god-seller  turned  again  to  his  customers. 

That  night  Jediah  and  Johanan  lay  in  the  house  of 
an  Israelite,  in  a  street  over  against  the  "House  of 
the  Males,"  a  monastic  establishment  which  furnished 
the  great  temples  of  the  city  with  servitors  and  with 
singers.  They  spoke  together  till  far  into  the  darkness, 
and  Johanan  unlocked  all  his  heart  to  Jediah. 

"  I  tell  thee,  Jediah,  that  Elcia  is  indeed  here  in  this 
great  city,"  he  said. 

"How  knowest  thou  that,  Johanan?"  said  Jediah, 
turning  uneasily  on  his  mattress  which  was  laid  upon 
the  floor,  as  was  the  custom  in  the  poorer  houses. 
"  Hath  any  one  told  thee,  then  ?" 

"  Naught  but  my  heart." 

"The  heart  is  the  great  liar,  Johanan.  It  leadeth 
men  in  crooked  paths." 

And  he  turned  again,  as  one  that  seeketh  rest  in 
vain. 

"It  telleth  me  the  truth.  She  is  here,  hidden  in 
some  strange  house  of  Babylon,  and  never  will  I  leave 
the  city  till  I  do  find  her.  Nay,  Jediah,  if  I  spend 
here  all  the  days  of  the  years  of  my  earthly  pilgrim- 
age, yet  will  I  linger  till  I  see  Elcia." 

39 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Stay,  then,  for  ever  if  thou  wilt,"  Jediah  answered. 
"But  perchance  thou  wilt  not  see  her,  nevertheless. 
Now  let  us  sleep." 

And  there  fell  a  silence  between  the  two  men. 

A  great  bat,  which  had  flown  into  the  room,  beat 
about  against  the  walls  all  through  the  night.  It  was 
like  a  spirit  of  evil,  unquiet,  and  seeking  a  home. 
Jediah  heard  it,  for  he  could  not  sleep. 

In  the  morning  he  stood  again  in  the  street  that 
was  higher  than  the  others,  among  the  press  around 
the  god-seller.  And  the  god-seller  looked  at  him  and 
said — 

"  Thou  art  come  again,  stranger.  Of  a  truth  thou 
seekest  something  of  me." 

"  Peradventure  I  do.  But  I  cannot  tell  thee  here 
what  I  desire.  Can  I  see  thee  by  night  ?" 

"  Yea," 

"  Where  dwellest  thou  ?" 

"  Beside  the  eastern  gate  of  the  city,  where  go  the 
caravans  when  they  depart  for  Sardis." 

Jediah  started. 

"  Beside  the  eastern  gate  ?    Where  is  thy  house  ?" 

"  I  lodge  with  one  named  Agpul." 

(<  Strange !"  murmured  Jediah. 

For  it  was  in  the  house  of  Agpul  that  Elcia  was 
bestowed. 

"  What  is  strange  ?  Must  not  a  man  lodge  in  some 
house  ?  Would  you  have  me  sleep  here  in  the  street 
with  my  gods?  Is  it  decent  to  treat  the  great  god 
Bel  and  Merodach  and  Anu,  god  of  heaven,  so  ?" 

"Nay,  nay,  I  meant  not  that.  I  will  see  thee  to- 
40 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

night,  after  sunset,  in  the  house  of  Agpul.  Fare- 
well." 

The  god-seller  smiled  till  all  the  pointed  teeth  of  his 
mouth  peered  forth  between  his  thick  lips.  For  he 
smelled  money.  And  money  was  his  god.  He  cared 
more  for  it  than  for  the  great  god  Bel,  or  than  for 
Anu,  god  of  heaven. 

That  evening,  at  sundown,  when,  in  the  hanging 
gardens,  the  wonder  of  the  world,  the  rich  Babylonian 
women  walked,  attended  by  those  Indian  dogs  that 
they  so  loved,  and  waited  on  by  Nubian  slaves,  who 
fanned  them  as  they  looked  forth  across  the  city  to 
the  river  Euphrates  and  the  plain  beyond,  Jediah, 
having  taken  leave  of  Elcia  in  the  house  of  Agpul  by 
the  eastern  gate,  stole  craftily  into  the  chamber  of  the 
god-seller,  whose  name  was  Migdapul. 

He  was  not  yet  returned  from  his  bartering,  and 
Jediah  lay  down  upon  a  mattress  to  wait  his  coming. 
The  chamber  of  the  god-seller  was  mean  and  dark. 
Two  or  three  gaudy  rugs  lay  upon  the  floor  of  brick. 
Very  little  light  entered  through  the  two  holes  which 
served  as  windows.  And  the  air  was  hot  and  well- 
nigh  suffocating.  On  a  rudely  fashioned  table  in  a 
corner  stood  an  array  of  gods,  made  in  cedar  wood, 
bronze,  and  stone.  They  stared  before  them  into  the 
dimness  with  their  sightless  eyes,  and  it  seemed  to 
Jediah  as  if  they  looked  into  his  heart  and  read  the 
black  thoughts  that  were  crowding  on  his  mind  as  he 
stretched  his  limbs  along  the  hard  mattress.  Under 
the  table  that  was  their  home  stood  a  stone  pitcher 
filled  with  water.  Flies  buzzed  incessantly  about  the 

41 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

room,  as  if  seeking  something  that  they  could  not  find. 
They  came  about  Jediah  in  swarms,  desiring  to  settle 
on  his  beard  and  hands  and  hair.  They  disturbed  his 
meditations,  and  he  sprang  up  angrily  and  paced  to 
and  fro  upon  the  bricks,  going  softly,  for  Elcia  was 
lodged  near  by,  and  she  thought  him  gone  into  the  city. 

The  darkness  of  night  came  on,  and  still  the  god- 
seller  did  not  return.  Jediah  grew  fiercely  impatient, 
then  numb  and  cold,  then  dull  and  heavy,  passing 
through  strangely  varied  changes.  At  the  last,  a  sense 
of  relief  struck  him.  He  suddenly  paused  in  his  walk, 
and,  extending  his  arms,  as  if  in  a  great  sigh  of  thank- 
fulness, he  said  aloud — 

"  He  cometh  not.  It  is  the  will  of  God.  He  cometh 
not.  I  will  go  forth.  I  will  not  do  this  thing." 

And,  as  he  stretched  forth  his  arms,  a  great  load 
seemed  to  drop  from  him — a  load  that  had  lain  upon 
his  heart  cold,  heavy,  and  morose,  the  load  of  terror 
that  lies  upon  the  hearts  of  the  wicked  and  of  those 
who  defy  the  sweet  purposes  of  Heaven. 

And  there  passed  from  before  the  eyes  of  his  inner 
being  the  vision  that  had  haunted  them  so  long.  In 
this  vision  he  saw  himself  ever  set,  a  Judge,  before  his 
brother  Judges,  who  were  become  his  accusers.  He 
beheld  his  place  upon  the  height  of  the  Judgment  Seat 
filled  by  another,  who  called  upon  the  people  over  whom 
he  had  been  lord  to  pronounce  the  sentence  of  his  doom. 
And,  looking  forth  over  the  sea  of  faces  that  encom- 
passed him,  he  saw,  in  all  the  eyes  that  stared  upon 
him,  no  soul  of  pity,  no  tenderness,  no  pardon.  But 
the  eyes  looked  death,  and  the  lips  cried  death,  and 

42 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

the  souls  desired  death.  Death  by  stones,  cruel,  horri- 
ble;  the  crushing  of  the  image  of  God  that  should  be 
beautiful,  the  fierce  sending  of  the  man  who  has  done 
evil  unprepared  before  the  throne  of  the  great  Judge 
who  will  surely  judge  all  the  world. 

Ah!  the  veil  dropped  from  his  heart.  The  vision 
passed.  He  seemed  to  see  kind  eyes  and  be  near  tender 
hearts.  And  he  cried  again,  scarce  knowing  that  words 
came  from  him — 

"  I  will  not  do  this  thing!" 

Even  as  he  spoke,  he  heard  a  shuffling  tread  without. 
He  stood  still,  listening  intently.  The  step  came  nearer. 
The  dirty  covering  at  the  doorway  was  pulled  aside, 
and  the  god-seller  entered,  bearing  his  basket  of  images 
on  his  arm,  and  showing  his  pointed  teeth  in  an  evil 
smile  of  welcome. 

"  Thou  art  here  before  me,  stranger,"  he  said.  And 
he  set  down  the  basket  "  It  has  been  an  evil  day  for 
me.  Only  two  Eels  sold  for  a  shekel  and  Merodachs 
all  left  upon  my  hands.  Of  a  truth,  I  know  not  what 
is  come  to  the  people  that  they  buy  not  my  wares. 
But  what  desirest  thou  ?" 

"  I  know  not  if  I  desire  anything,"  answered  Jediah, 
hesitating  and  with  the  speech  of  a  man  affrighted. 

The  god-seller  ceased  from  smiling,  and  his  square 
face  became  grim  and  old. 

"  Then  why  comest  thou  here  ?  For  a  charm  against 
the  wasting  sickness  ?" 

"  I  believe  not  in  thy  charms." 

"  Thou  art  an  Israelite,  like  the  maiden  in  yonder 
chamber." 

43 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"Hush!" 

"Why?  What  meanest  thou?  Dost  thou  know 
her?" 

"  It  is  of  her  I  would  speak  with  thee — of  her  and 
of  her  husband." 

"  She  is  married  ?    Then  must  she  buy  of  me  a  spell 

"Nay,  nay.  She  will  buy  naught  of  thee.  But 
I " 

He  hesitated. 

"Thou  wilt  buy  something.  Shall  I  show  thee 
my " 

But  Jediah  took  him  by  the  arm  and  whispered  in 
his  ear — 

"  Dost  thou  do  aught  save  to  sell  thy  gods  to  fools  ? 
Dost  thou  not  predict  things  for  men  ?" 

"  I  do.    And  I  would  have  thee  to  know  that " 

"And  dost  thou  not  help  thy  prophecies  to  come 
true?" 

"And  what  if  I  do?  Even  the  gods  need  the  help 
of  men." 

"  I  know  a  man — draw  near  and  speak  low — I  know 
a  man  here  in  this  city  who  seeketh  a  woman." 

"  There  be  many  that  do  that." 

"  He  must  not  find  her." 

"Is  she  in  Babylon?" 

"  She  is  here  in  this  house." 

The  god-seller  made  a  gesture  with  his  hand  towards 
the  room  in  which  Elcia  was  lodged. 

"  The  Israelitish  woman  ?" 

"  Yea.     There  be  many  blind  in  Babylon  ?" 

44 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  'Tis  true.  And  'tis  a  good  trade,  better  than  god- 
selling.  I  would  I  were  blind,  for  then  should  I  be 
richer  than  I  am." 

"  Thou  shalt  be  richer  if— if " 

"If  what?" 

"  If  thou  wilt  give  one  more  blind  man  to  Babylon." 

"Give  a  blind  man  to  Babylon?  What  meanest 
thou  ?" 

"  This  man  I  told  thee  of,  who  seeketh  the  Israelitish 
woman,  must  not  see  her.  And  yet  he  goeth  in  the 
streets,  and  he  is  not  blind.  How,  then,  shall  he  not 
one  day  see  her  ?" 

Jediah  and  the  god-seller  looked  at  one  another  in 
silence.  The  room  was  growing  dark,  and  in  the  dark- 
ness sounded  the  noise  of  the  flies.  Jediah  bent  down 
and  whispered, — 

"  Canst  thou  not  give  one  more  blind  man  to  Baby- 
lon ?  Thou  hast  said  it  is  a  good  trade,  and  better  than 
the  selling  of  gods." 

The  god-seller  nodded. 

"  And  the  shekels  ?"  he  whispered. 

"  Thou  shalt  have  much." 

Jediah  named  a  sum. 

"  "Wilt  thou  show  me  the  man  ?" 

«  Yea." 

«  When  ?" 

"  To-morrow,  when  thou  criest  thy  gods  in  the  street 
ere  the  sun  is  high  in  the  heaven.  And  now,  farewell." 

"  Stay !  The  Israelitish  woman — doth  she  know  that 
thou  art  here." 

"  She  must  not  know." 

45 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

They  were  in  the  doorway  now,  and  the  god-seller, 
with  his  skinny  hand,  was  holding  up  the  covering  for 
Jediah  to  pass  out.  In  the  street  they  could  hear  a 
shrill  voice  crying  with  endless  repetition  one  melan- 
choly phrase — 

"  Help  the  blind !     Help  the  blind !" 

The  god-seller  smiled. 

"  Thou  hearest  ?"  he  said.     "  It  is  an  omen." 

Jediah's  face  was  very  white,  and  he  shuddered  as  if 
with  cold. 

"  Art  thou  ill,  Israelite  ?" 

"  Nay,  nay." 

Jediah,  with  a  great  effort,  pulled  himself  up  into 
an  erect  attitude.  The  voice  of  the  beggar  died  away 
down  the  dark  street.  Then  Jediah  thought  of  Elcia, 
and  he  whispered  into  the  ear  of  the  god-seller — 

"Within  three  days  there  must  be  one  more  blind 
man  in  Babylon." 

"There  shall  be,  if  thou  hast  indeed  the  shekels," 
said  the  god-seller. 

And  letting  the  ragged  covering  drop,  he  turned 
back  into  the  black  chamber  in  which  the  flies  were 
now  buzzing  more  drowsily. 

On  the  morrow,  Jediah  said  to  Johanan — 

"  Wilt  thou  even  search  for  Elcia  to-day,  Johanan  ? 
She  is  not  here  in  Babylon,  be  sure ;  for  why  should 
she  come  hither,  and  with  whom  ?" 

"That  I  know  not,  Jediah,  but  that  she  is  here  I 
know.  And  each  day  will  I  seek  until  I  do  find  her." 

"I  will  come  with  thee,"  answered  Jediah,  "since 
thou  wilt  go.  Four  eyes  are  better  than  two.  And 

46 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

if  Elcia  is  indeed  here,  peradventure  I  shall  see  her 
before  thou  dost." 

"Thou  art  indeed  my  friend,  Jediah.  Let  us  go 
forth." 

Jediah  led  Johanan  towards  the  street  of  the  god- 
seller. 

"He  is  a  strange  man,  who  selleth  images  and 
charms,"  he  said  to  Johanan.  "  And  he  is  ever  beset 
by  the  women.  Peradventure  we  may  find  Elcia  with 
him.  For  Babylon  changeth  faith,  and  Elcia  is  but  a 
woman.  She  may  desire  to  learn  her  destiny  or  to 
purchase  some  sorcery  to  protect  her  from  the  danger 
of  the  city — if  she  be  here !" 

"  Ah,  let  us  go  thither.  If  she  be  there !  Where  is 
the  god-seller,  Jediah  ?  Let  us  hasten,  let  us  hasten !" 

And  Johanan  drew  his  companion  on  almost  as  one 
distraught.  For  ever  he  hoped  to  meet  with  Elcia. 
When  they  gained  the  high  street,  it  chanced  that 
Migdapul  stood  alone  with  his  basket  before  him. 
There  were  no  barterers  with  him  and  no  women. 
And  it  seemed  indeed  as  if  he  had  spoken  truth  when 
he  said  that  the  selling  of  gods  was  but  a  poor  trade, 
and  that  the  people  of  Babylon  sought  not  after  Bel 
and  after  Merodach,  as  in  former  days. 

As  they  came  towards  him,  Migdapul  fastened  his 
small  dark  eyes  on  Johanan. "  He  gave  no  sign  of 
recognition  to  Jediah,  but  began  to  cry  his  wares  in 
a  loud  voice.  And  ever  his  eyes  looked  at  the  eyes  of 
Johanan. 

"She  is  not  here,  Jediah,  she  is  not  here,"  said 
Johanan.  "  Let  us  go  on,  let  us  seek  her.  Perchance 

47 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

she  is  at  the  eastern  side  of  the  city,  where  go  the 
caravans  to  the  great  highway.  I  have  not  sought 
there  yet.  Let  us  go." 

But  Jediah  laid  his  hand  on  Johanan's  arm. 

"Stay  awhile,  Johanan,"  he  said.  "All  the  women 
of  the  city  seek  the  god-seller,  he  it  to-day  or  to- 
morrow, or  be  it  yesterday.  Perchance  he  hath  seen 
Elcia  here  in  Babylon.  Demand  of  him,  I  beseech 
thee." 

Then  Johanan  approached  the  god-seller  with  eager- 
ness. 

"Gods!  cheap  gods!"  vociferated  Migdapul.  "The 
cheapest  gods  in  Babylon.  Merodach,  who " 

"  Nay,  nay,  I  want  not  thy  gods ;  but  I  would  speak 
to  thee  a  moment,"  said  Johanan.  "  Thou  seest  many 
women  ?  Is  it  not  so  ?" 

"  All  the  women  of  Babylon  come  to  me.  For  am 
not  I  he  who  can  sell  charms  against  all  sickness? 
Cannot  I,  with  my  spells — the  cheapest  spells  in  Baby- 
lon— make  the  lame  to  walk  and  even  the  blind  to 
see?" 

As  he  spoke  the  last  words  he  smiled  curiously,  look- 
ing towards  Jediah.  But  Jediah  turned  away  and 
gazed  out  over  the  city. 

"  1  want  not  thy  charms.  I  would  speak  with  thee 
of  a  woman." 

"Thou  lovest  one  who  is  false  to  thee?  Is  it  not 
so?" 

"How  knowest  thou  that?"  said  Johanan,  starting. 

"  Cannot  I,  who  live  ever  with  the  gods,  divine  more 
than  other  men  ?  She  is  an  Israelitish  woman  ?" 

48 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Yea,  yea !     Hast  thou  seen  her  in  Babylon  ?" 

"What  like  is  she?" 

"  She  is  beautiful.  She  hath  dark  eyes,  like  the 
deep  waters,  but  behind  them  there  is  fire.  Her  hair 
is  black  as  jet,  and  she  bears  herself  proudly.  She  is 
like  a  queen,  more  than  common  tall !" 

"What  is  her  name?" 

«  Elcia." 

The  god-seller  affected  a  start  of  surprise. 

"Elcia!  Elcia!  Nay,  now,  by  the  great  god  Bel, 
it  seems  to  me  that  I — and  yet " 

He  paused,  as  one  plunged  in  deep  and  anxious 
meditation.  Johanan  regarded  him  with  a  terrible 
anxiety. 

"  Thou  hast  seen  her ! — thou  hast  seen  her !"  he 
cried  out.  "  Tell  me — where  is  she  ?  Lead  me  to  her, 
I  beseech  thee !" 

But  the  god-seller,  holding  up  his  skinny  hand, 
checked  the  fervour  of  Johanan. 

"  I  do  not  say  so,"  he  answered.  "  But  it  seemeth 
to  me  that  thou  art  right,  and  that  there  is  such  a 
woman  here  in  Babylon." 

He  stopped.     Then  he  continued  abruptly — 

"  Tell  me,  Israelite— hast  thou  no  faith  in  my  spells, 
no  belief  in  my  divining  power  ?  For,  if  not,  I  cannot 
aid  thee.  But " 

"  Yea — yea — speak  on !" 

"  If  thou  hast  faith,  I  may  do  what  thou  desirest. 
I  may  even  find  this  woman  for  thee." 

At  these  words  Jediah  turned  round  from  gazing  on 
the  city,  and  his  face  was  dark  with  anger  and  with 
4  49 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

fear.  The  god-seller  reassured  him  with  a  glance,  then 
continued  to  Johanan — 

"  But  thou  must  come  to  me  at  night,  and  alone." 

"  I  will  come.  But  may  not  I  bring  my  friend 
Jediah  ?" 

"  Doth  he  desire  to  companion  thee  ?" 

"Nay,  nay,  Johanan,"  said  Jediah  hastily.  "Go 
thou  alone,  if  indeed  thou  believest  in  the  charms  of  a 
false  religion.  I  will  have  naught  to  do  with  this." 

"  I  must  believe.    I  will,"  said  Johanan. 

Then  he  lowered  his  voice  and  said  to  Jediah  apart — 

"  This  man  is  not  like  unto  other  men.  Did  he  not 
tell  me  I  loved  one  who  is  false  to  me  ?" 

"  'Tis  true." 

"  How  should  he  know  it  if  he  be  not  of  a  truth  a 
diviner  ?  I  will  go  to  him,  Jediah,  by  night  and  alone." 

"  As  thou  wilt,  Johanan.  But  I  will  have  naught  to 
do  with  this  thing." 

"Whither  shall  I  go,  O  god-seller?"  said  Johanan, 
"and  at  what  hour  of  the  night?" 

"  Meet  me  here  when  the  sun  goeth  down,  when  the 
river  Euphrates  is  red  as  with  blood.  And  I  will  lead 
thee  to  the  dwelling  of  a  sorcerer  who  knoweth  more 
of  secret  things  than  any  man  in  Babylon.  Together 
will  he  and  I  cast  a  spell  and  set  the  woman  thou 
seekest  before  thee  as  in  a  vision.  In  a  dream  shalt 
thou  see  the  place  where  she  abideth." 

"  Thou  art  indeed  a  worker  of  miracles.  I  will  be 
with  thee  at  sundown." 

Johanan  turned  to  go.  As  Jediah  passed  by  the  god- 
seller,  he  whispered  to  him — 

50 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  Thou  wilt  do  as  thou  saidest  to  me  ?  Eemember 
he  is  poor  and  cannot  pay  thee." 

And  the  god-seller  answered — 

"  Ere  three  days  are  over  I  will  give  one  more  blind 
man  to  Babylon." 

And  then,  once  more,  he  began  to  cry  aloud  the 
merits  of  his  gods. 

At  sundown,  when  the  great  river  Euphrates  was 
red  as  with  blood,  Johanan  bade  farewell  to  Jediah 
and  departed  to  seek  the  god-seller. 

"  I  will  see  thee  again  ere  the  dawn  cometh,  Jediah," 
he  said,  in  going. 

And  Jediah  looked  at  him  and  said — 

"  Art  thou  sure  of  that,  Johanan  ?" 

"  Or  to-morrow." 

Then  an  impulse  of  horror  seized  Jediah,  and  he 
caught  Johanan  by  the  skirt  and  cried — 

"  Go  not  to  the  god-seller,  Johanan.  Thou  knowest 
him  not.  He  may  be  a  man  of  evil,  with  his  false  gods 
and  his  sorceries  and  his  divining  that  cometh  surely 
from  the  Wicked  One.  Stay  here,  I  beseech  thee." 

But  Johanan  answered — 

"  Nay,  I  must  even  go.  For  hath  he  not  promised 
to  show  unto  me  Elcia  in  a  vision,  or  in  a  dream  of  the 
night  ?  Farewell,  Jediah  ;  I  will  see  thee  in  the  dawn." 

And  he  drew  his  garment  from  the  hand  of  Jediah 
and  departed. 

The  sun  was  red  in  the  sky.  There  was  a  noise  of 
sailors'  voices  singing  on  the  great  river.  Jediah  stood 
in  the  door  watching  Johanan  as  he  went  down  the 
street,  and  murmuring — 

51 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  I  will  see  thee  in  the  dawn.  I  will  see  thee  in  the 
dawn." 

That  night  he  did  not  close  his  eyes,  but  tossed  on 
his  mattress  upon  the  floor.  The  great  bat  wheeled 
and  circled  about  the  room,  stirring  the  hot  air  with 
its  dusky  wings.  The  sweat  stood  upon  Jediah's  brow 
and  his  eyes  stared,  as  if  he  saw  something  terrible  in 
the  darkness.  He  dreaded  the  coming  of  the  dawn. 
Horror  invaded  his  heart,  and  he  counted  the  hours 
till  the  air  seemed  to  grow  colder  in  presage  of  the 
morning.  He  listened,  straining  his  ears.  But  there 
was  no  sound  without.  All  Babylon  seemed  to  be 
sleeping;  princes  in  their  palaces  and  hucksters  in 
their  hovels,  trader  and  noble,  lawgiver  and  law- 
breaker. It  was  deadly  silent.  Only  the  bat  stirred 
and  seemed  to  grow  ever  wilder  in  its  flight.  It  beat 
the  walls  and  uttered  a  remote  and  yet  penetrating  lit- 
tle cry  that  was  like  a  cry  of  pain  or  fear.  To  Jediah 
it  was  as  the  cry  of  a  spirit.  His  hair  shifted  upon  his 
head  and  he  sat  up  on  his  mattress,  supporting  himself 
with  his  hands.  Why  did  he  listen  ?  What  did  he 
expect  to  hear  ?  The  call  of  a  man  in  the  street  with- 
out or  the  song  of  a  woman  by  her  window  ?  No,  he 
listened  not  for  that.  The  air  now  seemed  to  him  to 
become  very  cold,  damp  also,  as  wind  that  bloweth 
from  a  river  or  from  the  long  marshes  where  the  mists 
sleep  in  the  darkness.  He  knew  that  the  dawn  was 
very  near,  and  he  thought  of  the  words  of  Johanan, 
"  I  will  see  thee  in  the  dawn."  He  was  listening  for 
the  footfalls  of  Johanan.  Each  moment  he  expected 
to  hear  them,  far  away,  at  the  end  of  the  thoroughfare, 

52 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

passing  before  the  portals  of  the  "  House  of  the  Males." 
Now  he  saw  a  very  faint  glimmer  in  the  narrow  aper- 
tures of  the  wall  and  the  grotesque  shadow  of  the  bat 
passing  and  repassing,  swaying  and  darting.  The 
glimmer  grew,  and  ever  as  it  grew  Jediah  listened 
more  intently,  leaning  forward  with  lips  apart  and 
muscles  braced  and  tightened  till  they  stood  up  upon 
his  body  And  as  the  first  beam  of  light  appeared  he 
did  indeed  hear  a  distant  footstep.  It  was  far  away, 
but  coming  slowly  onward,  slowly,  slowly  down  the 
street.  It  drew  nearer  and  nearer,  and  Jediah  mut- 
tered to  himself,  "  It  is  he !  It  is  Johanan !" 

How  loud  it  was  now,  beating  in  his  ears  like  the 
drums  beaten  in  the  processions  of  the  great  god  Bel. 
It  deafened  him.  It  sounded  in  his  heart.  He  cov- 
ered his  ears  with  his  hands,  and  his  hands  were  cold 
and  damp  with  the  dews  of  terror.  And  the  noise  of 
the  feet  ceased.  Surely  Johanan  was  stopping  before 
the  house.  He  would  strike  upon  the  door  with  his 
staff  now.  He  would  strike.  Jediah  strained  his  ears. 
There  came  a  hard  knock  upon  the  outer  door,  and 
then  a  voice,  like  the  voice  of  one  who  wailed  aloud  in 
horrible  despair,  cried — 

'<  Help  the  blind !" 

Throwing  his  hands  abroad  as  if  to  ward  off  a  blow, 
Jediah  sank  back  upon  his  mattress,  burying  himself 
in  the  coarse  woollen  covering,  hiding  his  eyes  from 
the  light,  closing  his  ears  from  the  voice.  But  he  still 
heard  it  pealing  like  a  trumpet  in  his  soul — 

"  Help  the  blind !     Help  the  blind !" 


53 


CHAPTER  IV 

THREE  months  later  Jediah  returned  alone  to  the 
tents  of  his  people.  His  face  was  lined  as  with  care, 
and  he  appeared  to  be  already  older  by  some  years 
than  when  he  departed  from  the  well  of  Naomi  with 
Johanan  to  seek  Elcia  in  the  great  city  of  Babylon. 
So  deeply  doth  sin  weigh  upon  the  shoulders  of  a  man 
and  steal  into  the  secret  places  of  his  heart.  Those 
months  in  Babylon  had  been  ever  fraught  with  anxiety 
and  burdened  with  horror.  Ever  had  Jediah  heard 
the  distant  sound  of  footsteps,  the  beating  of  a  staff 
upon  a  door,  the  terrible  and  despairing  cry  of  a  man 
that  is  blind.  Even  the  pressure  of  the  arms  of  Elcia 
had  not  availed  to  keep  out  the  sound  that  haunted 
him  like  a  cruel  echo  by  day  and  by  night.  Indeed, 
when  he  was  with  Elcia  in  the  house  the  terror  came 
more  near,  and  he  felt  that  the  blind  man  entered  and 
stood  at  his  side,  gazing  upon  him  with  eyes  that  were 
sightless,  and  that  yet  could  see  into  his  very  soul. 
Sometimes  he  cried  aloud,  and  started  up  trembling. 
And  Elcia  was  affrighted,  and  asked  him — 

"  What  is  ill  with  thee,  Jediah  ?  Thou  starest  as  if 
some  one  were  before  thee." 

And  he  answered  her — 

"  And  is  there  not  indeed  some  one — there — there  ?" 

"  Nay,  there  is  nothing.     Turn  thee,  and  sleep  again." 

54 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

And  she  laid  her  hand  upon  the  dews  of  his  fore- 
head, and  gave  him  to  drink.  But  sleep  came  not  to 
the  porches  of  his  eyes,  and  ever  the  horror  gathered 
more  thickly  about  his  heart,  till  he  could  neither  rest 
nor  be  at  peace  for  a  moment.  Then  he  grew  to  hate 
the  woman  for  desire  of  whom  he  had  betrayed  the 
man  who  trusted  in  him,  and  to  hate  himself  when  he 
was  with  her.  He  was  cruel  and  bitter  to  her,  till  she 
trembled  at  his  approach  and  would  have  fled  at  the 
sound  of  his  voice.  And  at  last  he  rose  in  the  night, 
while  she  slept,  and  stole  from  the  dwelling-house  like 
a  thief  fearing  discovery,  and,  finding  a  caravan  that 
was  setting  forth  from  Babylon  to  gather  in  tribute 
from  the  captive  Israelites,  he  joined  it,  and  returned 
alone  to  the  tents  of  his  people  and  to  Zoar  his  father. 
Zoar  was  glad  at  his  return,  for  he  loved  him,  and 
Naomi,  the  wife  of  Zoar,  stepmother  to  Jediah  and 
own  mother  to  Lemuel,  who  was  yet  a  lad  and  away 
from  the  tents,  shepherd  to  an  Israelite  afar  among  the 
hills — Naomi  wept  with  joy.  For,  though  she  loved 
best  her  own  son  Lemuel,  yet  she  loved  also  Jediah, 
deeming  him  a  man  of  great  virtue,  and  one  to  whom 
the  whole  tribe  looked  as  Lord  and  Judge.  Yet  soon 
she  learned  to  fear  Jediah,  who  was  now  ever  stern 
and  cold,  relentless  as  lawgiver  and  hard  to  those  about 
him.  Sometimes  she  asked  Zoar — 

"What  has  come  to  thy  son,  Jediah,  oh  my  hus- 
band?" 

And  Zoar  answered  her — 

"  He  that  is  Judge  is  not  as  other  men.  From  him 
cometh  the  law,  and  he  holdeth  in  his  hands  the  scales 

55 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

of  justice.  How,  then,  should  he  be  soft  in  heart,  in- 
clining ever  to  mercy,  as  doth  a  woman  ?" 

Then  Naomi  bowed  her  head  in  the  tent,  and  said — 

"  Thou  art  right,  oh  my  husband.  Jediah  is  not  as 
other  men,  but  a  Judge  in  Israel." 

Now  in  Israel  there  was  a  law  which  was  thus  writ- 
ten : — 

"  If  a  damsel  be  betrothed  unto  a  man,  and  another 
man  take  her,  then  shall  ye  bring  them  both  out  unto 
the  gate  of  the  city,  and  ye  shall  stone  them  with 
stones,  that  they  both  die." 

It  chanced  that,  soon  after  the  return  of  Jediah  from 
Babylon,  a  certain  Israelite  had  stolen  from  his  own 
brother  the  maiden  to  whom  that  one  was  betrothed, 
and  had  taken  her  unto  himself  in  love.  Therefore 
the  brother  came  up  unto  Jediah,  demanding  the  pun- 
ishment of  these  guilty  ones  according  to  the  law  of 
his  fathers. 

"Justice,  O  Jediah!"  he  cried  aloud.  "My  joy  is 
taken  from  me,  my  peace  is  broken  upon  the  earth  for 
ever.  Give  me  justice!" 

And  Jediah  answered  him — 

"  Fear  not.  Thou  shalt  have  justice  while  I  am  a 
lawgiver  in  Israel." 

Then  he  called  together  the  Judges,  and  convoked  all 
the  people  for  a  certain  day  to  gather  about  the  Judg- 
ment Seat  that  was  set  in  the  midst  of  the  plain  before 
the  tents.  And  on  the  day  appointed  he  went  forth 
from  his  tent,  wrapping  his  robe  about  him.  His  face 
was  stern  and  cold.  His  lips  were  set  in  his  beard,  and 
his  eyes,  fierce  as  the  eyes  of  a  hawk  when  it  falleth 

56 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

upon  its  prey,  stared  before  him,  looking  neither  to  the 
right  hand  nor  to  the  left.  All  those  that  saw  him 
feared  him  that  day,  and  even  the  little  children 
shrank  to  the  side  of  the  way  when  he  approached. 
When  he  came  in  sight  of  the  Judgment  Seat  he  saw 
that  there  was  a  great  crowd  about  it,  and  he  heard 
the  murmur  of  many  voices,  like  the  long  murmur  of 
the  waves  of  the  sea  upon  the  sand.  For  all  the  peo- 
ple had  come  in  from  their  labours  in  the  fields,  and 
from  tending  the  flocks  and  the  herds,  to  hear  the  pro- 
nouncing of  the  Judgment,  and  to  assist  at  the  pay- 
ment of  the  penalty,  if  indeed  the  sentence  of  the  law 
should  be  given.  Here  were  all  the  shepherds  and  the 
drovers,  those  that  planted  and  those  that  drove  the 
asses  and  that  laded  the  camels,  old  and  young,  men, 
women  and  children — all  were  gathered  about  the 
Judgment  Seat.  There,  too,  was  Zoar,  with  his  wife 
Naomi.  And  with  them  there  was  a  very  young 
maiden,  by  name  Elna,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  all 
the  daughters  of  Israel.  Her  hair  was  dark,  and 
flowed  down  upon  her  shoulders  almost  to  her  feet. 
She  had  blue  eyes,  and  her  mouth  was  like  a  flower. 
But  now  her  cheek  was  pale,  and  in  her  eyes  the  tears 
were  gathering.  For  she  had  great  fear  of  the  terrors 
of  the  inexorable  law,  and  knew  not  what  was  to 
come.  The  Judgment  Seat  was  a  great  seat  of  stone, 
and  before  it  there  was  a  step.  And  at  the  foot  of  this 
step,  in  the  midst  of  all  the  people,  watched  by  all 
eyes,  spoken  of  by  all  lips,  stood  together  the  man  and 
the  woman  who  are  to  be  judged.  They  looked  not 
up,  but  cast  their  eyes  down  to  the  ground,  longing  to 

57 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

hide  themselves  from  the  press  of  the  people,  and  from 
the  gaze  of  those  who  regarded  them  so  pitilessly.  As 
Jediah  drew  near  there  was  a  murmur  from  the  crowd, 
who  drew  aside  to  let  him  pass  to  join  the  other 
Judges.  These  stood  together  by  the  Judgment  Seat, 
with  the  priest  of  the  tribe,  and  with  the  elders  of  the 
people.  Then  the  trumpet  sounded,  and  the  Judges 
mounted  upon  their  seat,  Zoar  being  in  the  midst,  with 
Jediah  upon  his  right  hand.  And  the  priest  cried 
aloud — 

"  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord !" 

And  all  the  people  answered  and  said — 

"  We  praise  His  holy  name." 

Only  the  man  and  the  woman  were  silent,  trembling 
in  the  knowledge  of  their  guilt  and  of  the  punishment 
that  was  to  come  upon  them.  And  the  tears  welled 
up  under  the  white  lids  of  the  eyes  of  the  young 
maiden  Elna,  who  stood  with  Naomi,  and  ran  down  upon 
her  cheeks.  For  she  was  pitiful  and  tender-hearted. 

Then  rose  up  a  Judge,  and  he  said — 

"  Men  of  Israel,  of  the  house  of  Zoar !  If  a  man  is 
betrothed  unto  a  woman,  and  another  man  take  her, 
what  shall  be  their  punishment?  What  saith  the  law  ?" 

"  Their  punishment  shall  be  death." 

And  the  Judge  said,  speaking  with  a  loud  voice  that 
all  might  hear  him — 

"Shall  they  not  be  stoned  with  stones  until  they 
die?" 

And  all  the  people  cried  out — 

"  They  shall  be  stoned  with  stones  until  they  die." 

Then  the  Judge  said,  turning  to  him  that  was  be- 

58 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

trotted  to  the  maiden  who  was  now  summoned  to 
judgment — 

"  Speak  thou,  Manael.  Testify  the  wrong  that  hath 
been  done  to  thee." 

And  Manael,  standing  by  the  Judgment  Seat,  said 
with  exceeding  great  bitterness — 

"  I,  Manael,  eldest  born  of  my  father's  house,  a  ten- 
der of  flocks  and  of  herds  in  Israel,  do  testify  and  do 
swear  that  I  was  betrothed  unto  this  maid,  Martha,  by 
my  father  Abirah.  Answer,  oh  my  father.  Did'st  thou 
not  indeed  give  this  woman  unto  me  for  wife  ?" 

Then  Abirah,  a  man  well  stricken  in  years,  testified 
and  said — 

"  It  is  true.     I  did  give  this  woman  unto  thee." 

Then  the  Judge  said  to  the  maiden — 

"  Answer  thou,  oh  woman.  Wast  not  thou  betrothed 
unto  this  man,  Manael,  by  his  father  Abirah  ?" 

And  the  maiden  bowed  her  head  and  said  in  a  voice 
scarce  audible — 

"  Yea." 

Then  the  Judge  said  to  the  man — 

"And  thou — answer  thou.  Did'st  thou  not  know 
that  this  woman  was  betrothed  unto  thy  brother?" 

And  the  man  answered — 

"  I  did  know  it." 

"And,  knowing  it,  did'st  thou  steal  her  from  thy 
brother  and  take  her  unto  thyself  in  love?" 

And  the  man  answered — 

"  Yea." 

Then  the  Judge,  turning  to  his  brethren  upon  the 
Judgment  Seat,  said  unto  them — 

59 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  What  shall  be  the  sentence  of  the  law  upon  this 
man  and  this  woman  ?" 

And  the  Judges  answered  and  said — 

"  They  shall  be  taken  out  and  stoned  with  stones 
that  they  both  die." 

Only  Jediah  answered  not  with  the  others.  His 
throat  was  dry  and  parched  as  the  wind  in  the  desert, 
and  there  was  a  singing  within  his  ears.  And  it 
seemed  to  him  as  if  he  stood  at  the  step  of  the  Judg- 
ment Seat,  and  that  all  the  people  looked  upon  him  and 
cried,  "  He  is  guilty !  Let  him  go  forth  and  be  stoned 
with  stones  until  he  die." 

"  Jediah,  son  of  Zoar,  thou  that  art  a  Judge  in  Israel, 
why  answerest  thou  not  ?  What  shall  be  the  sentence 
upon  this  man  and  this  woman  ?" 

Then  Jediah  called  upon  his  soul,  and  said  in  a  low 
voice  that  the  people  could  not  hear — 

"  They  shall  both  be  stoned  with  stones  that  they — 
may — die." 

And  he  sank  back  in  his  seat  and  put  his  hands  before 
his  face.  For  he  seemed  to  pronounce  his  own  con- 
demnation. 

Then  the  Judge,  for  the  last  time,  turned  to  the 
people  and  said  unto  them — 

"What  shall  be  done  unto  this  man  and  unto  this 
woman  ?" 

And  all  the  people  answered — 

"  They  shall  be  stoned  with  stones  that  they  may  die." 

Then  the  Judge  cried  and  said  to  the  people — 

"  It  is  finished.  Let  justice  be  done  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord." 

60 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

And  the  trumpet  sounded  and  the  priest  said  in  a 
loud  voice — 

"  Praise  the  name  of  the  Lord  !" 

And  all  the  people  answered  and  said — 

"  We  praise  His  holy  name." 

Then  all  the  Judges  stood  up  in  the  Judgment  Seat, 
and  the  people  ran  from  every  side ;  the  elders  and  the 
fathers,  and  the  men  come  in  from  the  fields  and  from 
far  off  in  the  plains,  the  camel- drivers  and  the  shep- 
herds and  many  women.  Yea,  the  women  were  in  the 
forefront  of  the  press.  And  they  laid  their  hands 
upon  the  young  man  and  the  maiden  who  stood  before 
the  Judgment  Seat.  And  they  all  cried  aloud — 

"  To  the  place  of  stones  !     To  the  place  of  stones !" 

Then  the  maiden  screamed  with  terror,  and  cried 
for  mercy ;  hut  the  people  heeded  her  not.  But  they 
seized  and  carried  her,  dragging  her  from  the  Judgment 
Seat.  And  they  tore  the  young  man  from  her,  buffet- 
ing him  and  grasping  him  with  their  hands.  And  he 
too  called  for  mercy,  repenting  of  what  he  had  done. 
And  stretching  out  his  arms  to  the  Judges,  who  stood 
ever  upon  the  lofty  seat,  he  caught  the  skirt  of 
Jediah's  robe  with  his  fingers,  crying  in  a  lamentable 
voice — 

"  Mercy,  Jediah,  son  of  Zoar !     Mercy !  mercy !" 

Then  Jediah  leaned  down  where  he  stood,  and  tore 
away  his  robe  from  the  grasp  of  the  young  man,  and 
thrust  him  backwards  down  among  the  press  of  the 
people,  and  cried  out — 

"  Not  mercy,  but  justice !" 

And  all  the  people  caught  up  the  cry  and  shouted — 
61 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  Not  mercy,  but  justice  !  Justice  in  Israel !  Jus- 
tice !  Justice !" 

Only  the  young  maid  Elna  joined  not  her  voice  with 
the  others.  She  wept  bitterly  and  clung  to  Naomi, 
hiding  her  face  that  she  might  not  see  the  tumult  and 
the  seizing  of  these  guilty  ones.  But  when  she  heard 
this  great  shout,  she,  with  her  weak  voice  of  a  child, 
cried — 

"  Nay,  nay.    Mercy  !     Mercy !" 

Jediah  heard  her,  and  he  turned  him  on  the 
Judgment  Seat  and  looked  down  to  where  she  was 
standing.  Her  face,  soft  as  a  flower,  was  turned  up- 
ward to  him  as  if  in  appeal.  The  tears  streamed 
down  upon  her  tender  cheeks,  and  when  she  saw  that 
Jediah  looked  at  her,  she  held  forth  her  two  little 
hands  towards  him  and  cried  again  with  all  her 
strength — 

"Help  them!     Help  them!     Mercy!     Mercy!" 

Her  cry  struck  like  a  sharp  blade  of  steel  into  his 
heart.  He  sprang  forward  as  if  he  would  arrest  the 
throng  who  were  hurrying  towards  the  place  of  stones. 
But  he  was  powerless.  Already  the  guilty  maiden, 
half  dead  with  fear,  was  being  borne  beyond  his  sight. 
He  saw  her  white  face,  like  the  face  of  a  corpse,  tossed 
upon  the  sea  of  humanity  as  a  lily  upon  the  waves 
of  the  stormy  deep.  He  saw  her  arms  hanging,  her 
long  hair,  in  which  rude  hands  were  thrust,  flowing 
down  among  the  trampling  feet  of  the  shrieking  crowd. 
She  fell,  and  was  raised  up  again  and  carried  onward 
to  meet  her  doom.  And  behind  her,  the  young  man 
who  had  loved  her  to  their  undoing  was  hurried  on- 

62 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

ward  with  blows  and  with  scornful  words.  He  too 
was  pale,  and  his  eyes  stared  before  him,  but  there 
was  courage  in  his  face.  Now  that  death  was  close 
upon  him,  he  called  upon  all  the  strength  of  his  heart. 
He  bore  himself  as  a  man  should,  and  there  was  even 
a  sort  of  glory  upon  him,  as  if,  by  paying  the  penalty 
of  his  sin,  he  was  purged  from  his  sin  and  could  look 
upward  again  to  the  great  God  of  his  fathers  and  say 
with  confidence — 

"  Thou  wilt  pardon  me  !" 

He  disappeared  from  the  eyes  of  Jediah.  There  fell 
a  silence.  And  then  there  was  the  sound  of  stones 
dropping  upon  the  hard  ground.  And  then  there  was 
again  a  silence. 

Jediah  stepped  down  slowly  from  the  Judgment  Seat. 
His  limbs  were  trembling,  but  his  face  was  grave  and 
stern  as  he  came  up  to  Naomi.  The  little  maid  Elna 
sprang  towards  him,  sobbing  and  seizing  his  robe  with 
her  tiny  hands.  Hiding  her  face  there,  she  cried — 

"  Oh,  save  them — save  them  !     Mercy !     Mercy !" 

And  then  she  wailed  bitterly.  Jediah  took  her  by 
the  hand  and  lifted  her  in  his  arms.  Her  childish 
beauty  spoke  to  his  heart.  Her  bitter  grief  moved  his 
stern  nature. 

"There  is  no  mercy  for  the  wicked,"  he  said. 
"  Knowest  thou  not  that  ?" 

The  child  only  wept  the  more.  Then  it  seemed  as 
if  a  voice  that  he  would  fain  have  put  from  him  spoke 
within  Jediah,  out  of  his  soul,  whether  he  would  or  no. 
And  he  said — 

"The  deeds  that  we  do,  whether  good  or  evil,  return 

63 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

to  us  again  to  give  us  our  reward.  They  may  tarry 
long  on  their  journey,  as  tarry  the  great  caravans  that 
come  from  the  desert.  And  peradventure  we  may  say 
unto  ourselves  that  they  will  never  come.  But  there 
surely  dawneth  a  day  when  they  do  stand  before  us, 
and  in  their  hand  they  do  bear  the  gift — life  for  the 
good,  death  for  the  evil." 

He  ceased  from  speaking.  And  then  suddenly  a 
great  fear  came  upon  him.  He  put  down  the  little 
maid  from  his  arms,  and  he  went  away  alone  into  the 
darkness  of  his  tent. 

And  that  night  he  wept  sore.  And  his  soul  was  full 
of  terror. 


64 


CHAPTER  V 

FOUR  years  passed,  with  their  sixteen  seasons  of 
labours  in  the  fields  and  pleasures  in  the  city,  their 
births,  marriages,  and  deaths.  Elcia  had  never  re- 
turned from  distant  Babylon  to  the  tents  of  her 
kindred.  Nor  had  Jediah  again  gone  up  unto  Baby- 
lon. He  knew  not  the  measure  of  her  fate.  He  had 
forgotten  her  beauty.  The  voice  of  his  passion  for  her 
had  long  been  silent  in  his  heart.  But  the  voice  of  his 
conscience  was  not  stilled  by  the  years.  He  was  be- 
come a  hard  and  a  morose  man,  inflexible  even  to 
cruelty  as  a  Judge,  and  reserved  to  those  about  him. 
Yet,  although  all  tenderness  seemed  to  have  been 
driven  out  from  his  soul,  the  murmur  of  desire  that  is 
natural  in  man  was  wakeful  in  him  as  the  murmur  is 
wakeful  in  the  sea  ;  and  when  the  maiden  Elna,  who 
had  so  wept  at  the  bitter  scene  of  the  judgment  in  the 
plains,  grew  up  into  the  first  fulness  of  beauty,  Jediah 
cast  his  eyes  upon  her  and  desired  her  to  be  his  wife. 
She  knew  not  love,  being  so  youthful.  Nor  did  she 
know  at  all  what  joy  life  can  bring  to  a  maid  when  she 
loves.  So  when  Jediah  asked  her  in  marriage,  she 
knew  not  how  to  say  him  nay ;  and  Zoar,  his  father, 
betrothed  them,  as  was  the  custom  in  Israel.  Yet  was 
Elna  ever  afraid  of  the  hardness  of  Jediah  and  of  the 
fierceness  of  his  eyes,  in  which  seemed  to  burn  a  light 
more  pitiless  than  the  light  of  any  torch,  and  of  the 

5  6 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

sound  of  his  voice,  which  was  cold  as  the  night  wind 
that  blows  out  of  the  desert.  Nevertheless  did  she 
look  up  to  and  respect  him.  For  he  was  a  Judge  and 
lawgiver  in  Israel,  and  a  man  of  consideration  to  all 
his  tribe.  But  respect  is  not  love.  And  this  Elna 
knew,  to  the  sorrow  of  her  heart,  when  she  knew 
Lemuel,  own  son  to  Naomi  and  half-brother  to  Jediah. 
This  one,  who  had  been  long  away  from  the  tents, 
serving  a  master  as  shepherd  of  the  flocks,  returned 
to  the  tents  of  his  father  and  of  his  mother  soon  after 
the  betrothal  of  Jediah  with  Elna.  He  was  now  a 
man,  strong  of  courage,  stalwart  and  well-knit  of 
figure,  with  a  brave  and  open  countenance  and  a  heart 
fearless  as  a  lion's.  His  brown  hair  clustered  thickly 
about  his  brows.  The  muscles  of  his  arms  were  as 
iron,  and  his  voice  was  clear  as  the  voice  of  a  bell,  and 
his  heart  was  hot  with  the  fire  of  patriotism.  He 
loved  his  country  and  his  people  with  no  ordinary  love 
such  as  loses  itself  in  words  and  in  useless  regrets. 
Their  captivity  in  a  land  of  bondage  oppressed  him  as 
a  sad  and  baleful  dream  oppresses  a  sleeper  in  the 
watches  of  the  night.  And  the  longing  of  his  soul 
was  to  free  them  from  this  bondage  in  which  they 
laboured,  and  to  set  them  again  in  their  own  country. 
Gifted  with  eloquence  and  with  the  power  of  moving 
the  heart  of  crowds,  dauntless  in  courage,  shrinking 
from  no  labour,  and  careless  of  fatigue,  Lemuel, 
although  young  in  years,  was  already  looked  to  by 
many  as  a  regenerator  and  as  a  possible  Messiah.  He 
was  known  among  all  the  Israelites.  Men  spoke  of 
him — whispering  low — in  Babylon.  Some  said  he  was 

66 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

a  prophet  inspired  by  God.  Others  that  he  was  a 
dreamer  and  a  visionary.  But  all  his  people  knew  the 
courage  that  burned  in  him  like  a  flame,  and  the  single- 
purposed  devotion  that  set  him  apart  from  his  breth- 
ren. They  loved  him.  And  Elna,  when  she  saw  him, 
loved  him  too. 

That  was  terrible  to  her.  For  now  was  she  be- 
trothed to  his  brother  Jediah,  and  must  not  look  at 
any  other  man.  And  Lemuel,  deep  in  his  soul,  loved 
Elna,  youth  drawing  instinctively  towards  youth  and 
single  heart  to  single  heart.  But  he  put  the  thought 
of  the  maiden  from  him,  busying  himself  with  his 
labours  in  the  fields  and  among  the  brethren.  For 
there  was  now  a  widely  extending  movement  in  Israel, 
secret  and  ever  surreptitious,  yet  persistent  and  hope- 
ful, towards  freedom.  Already  there  were  men  who 
looked  forward  to  the  end  of  captivity,  and  women 
who  whispered  to  their  little  ones  that  they  should 
not  die — as  tKey  were  born — in  slavery.  A  strange 
hope  ran  through  Israel,  murmured  from  mouth  to 
mouth,  in  the  ways  of  Babylon  and  among  the  green 
corn  in  the  fields,  and  on  the  waters  of  the  river 
Euphrates,  and  in  the  silent  places  among  the  hills. 
A  glowing  confidence  arose — how  or  why,  men  could 
not  tell.  Perhaps  it  came  from  the  courage  of  Lemuel. 
For  one  man  can  set  a  spark  to  a  torch  that  will  light 
a  world.  One  man  that  truly  believes  can  create  be- 
lief in  a  universe  of  men.  And  at  the  time  now  writ- 
ten of  hope  grew  ever  in  Israel,  and  there  were  many 
secret  conclaves  both  in  Babylon  and  in  the  surround- 
ing country. 

67 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

One  afternoon,  towards  the  sunset  hour,  some  Is- 
raelites were  gathered  about  the  well  of  Naomi.  Hez- 
ron,  a  shepherd,  seated  upon  a  stone,  was  playing  a 
melancholy  air  upon  a  reed  pipe,  cunningly  fashioned 
and  tinted  a  pale  green.  Ababa  and  other  Israelites 
were  lying  upon  the  warm  ground,  fashioning  packs 
for  camels.  Some  women  were  drawing  water  from 
the  well  to  fill  the  pitchers  which  they  bore  upon  their 
heads,  and  three  or  four  little  children  played  gaily 
together  among  the  palm-trees.  Their  laughter  and 
their  merry  shouting  rang  out  in  the  evening  air. 
They  knew  naught  of  slavery,  naught  of  the  grinding 
misery  of  those  who  dwell  in  bondage.  They  danced 
to  Hezron's  pipe  and  chattered  together  as  happily  as 
if  they  were  in  their  own  land,  far  from  the  whip  of 
the  taskmaster  and  from  the  voice  of  the  oppressor. 
But  their  mothers  often  gazed  at  them  with  sorrow 
and  kissed  them  with  tears.  And  then,  for  a  moment, 
they  too  looked  sorrowful,  wondering  as  children  will, 
and  sensitive  to  the  grief  of  those  about  them. 

Presently  Hezron  put  down  his  pipe,  as  Sabaal,  fol- 
lowed by  three  or  four  men  bearing  water-skins,  came 
towards  the  well  of  Naomi,  saying — 

"Haste,  haste!  Hither,  idlers!  Help  to  fill  these 
skins.  The  Lord  Alorus  is  at  hand  with  his  task- 
masters. If  thou  would'st  not  taste  their  whips,  to 
work !" 

Sabaal  was  a  slave  to  Alorus,  who  was  a  great  lord 
in  Babylon,  and  was  now  come  hither  with  his  master, 
who  was  gathering  in  tribute  from  Israel. 

"Nay,  Sabaal,"  said  Adoram,  another  Israelite,  "let 
68 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

not  the  Babylonians  use  their  whips  on  us.  We  are 
not  the  slaves  of  Alorus  as  thou  art.  We  are  free." 

Sabaal  turned  upon  him  with  a  sort  of  fury,  and  his 
face,  cunning  and  sinister,  was  dark  with  anger,  as  he 
replied — 

"Free  art  thou!  An  Israelite,  and  free  I  Free! 
Ay,  and  for  that  thou  pa}*est  tribute  unto  Babylon — in 
flocks,  in  herds,  in  corn,  and  in  toil.  Thou  are  free,  oh 
sons  of  Israel,  and  therefore  thy  best  bone  and  sinew 
goeth  to  Babylon,  to  hew  her  stone,  bake  her  bricks, 
and  build  her  palaces,  while  thy  fairest  daughters  are 
stolen  to  fill  them!  Free!  Ay,  even  as  Israel  was 
free  in  Egypt  before  the  prophet  led  her  chosen  people 
through  the  Red  Sea  out  into  the  wilderness.  Free ! 
Babylon  holds  thee  beneath  her  feet ;  ye  are  slaves — 
slaves — slaves!  And  ye  sleep  and  rot  in  her  chains. 
Will  ye  never  awake  ?" 

"  Ay,  Sabaal,"  answered  Adoram,  "  ay,  when  that  a 
second  Messiah  doth  come  to  tell  us  the  dawn  is  at 
hand." 

Sabaal  paused  by  the  well  for  a  moment,  as  if  in 
thought.  Then  he  said,  in  an  under  voice — 

"  Both  prophet  and  dawn  may  be  nearer  than  thou 
thinkest,  Adoram." 

"  Prophet !  Dost  thou  mean  Lemuel  ?"  said  Adoram 
eagerly. 

"  Hold  thy  peace !  hold  thy  peace !"  returned  Sabaal 
quickly. 

He  turned  again  towards  the  men  with  the  water- 
skins,  crying — 

"  Haste  with  those  skins !     Haste  !  haste !" 

69 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

There  was  a  bustle  round  about  the  well.  The  men 
bent  to  draw  the  water,  filling  the  mighty  skins  till 
they  swelled  into  strange  and  bloated  shapes.  "While 
they  were  tbus  occupied,  Sabaal,  speaking  aside  to 
another  Israelite,  one  named  Ahira,  whispered — 

"  Find  a  time  to  speak  with  me  alone.  I  will  place 
thee  near  me  on  our  march.  If  thou  art  a  true  son  of 
Israel,  thou  may'st  help  her  prophet  yet." 

Ahira's  dark  face  and  brilliant  eyes  gleamed  with  a 
light  of  energy.  He  bent  his  head  in  response,  but  he 
uttered  no  word.  And  Sabaal,  moving  away  from  him, 
pushed  the  men  with  the  water-skins  from  the  well- 
side,  crying  aloud  in  a  strident  voice — 

"  Haste,  men,  haste !     Thou — and  thou !" 

The  men  hurried  at  his  bidding,  and  he  drove  them 
on  before  him  towards  the  camp  of  the  Lord  Alorus. 
Hezron,  who  had  laid  down  his  pipe  and  had  risen 
from  the  stone  on  which  he  had  been  seated,  watched 
the  retreating  form  of  Sabaal  till  it  disappeared  in  the 
distance  and  the  sound  of  his  shouting  voice  died  away 
into  silence ;  then  he  turned  to  a  woman,  Tirzah,  and 
said — 

"That  is  a  strange  man,  that  Sabaal;  strange  and 
violent.  He  hath  been  much  with  Lemuel  since  the 
Lord  Alorus  brought  him  thither.  Time  after  time 
among  the  palm-trees  have  I  seen  them  in  close  con- 
verse, and  ever  have  they  parted  hastily  when  dis- 
covered." 

"  Nay,  but  that  is  a  strange  thing,  Hezron,"  answered 
Tirzah ;  "  for  what  can  there  be  in  common  between 
Lemuel  and  Sabaal,  slave  to  Alorus  ?" 

70 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  I  know  not,"  answered  Hezron. 

"It  seemeth  to  me,"  said  Ahira,  who  was  seated  on 
the  fallen  trunk  of  a  giant  palm,  "that  Lemuel  de- 
sireth,  peradventure,  to  learn  news  of  Babylon,  of  her 
people  and  of  her  ways.  "Pis  a  dangerous  and  terrible 
city  to  the  stranger  within  its  gates.  And  they  say 
that  no  man  who  tarrieth  there  for  long  ever  returns 
unchanged." 

While  he  was  speaking,  some  women  passed  by 
towards  the  well,  bearing  their  pitchers.  They  lin- 
gered, giving  heed  to  the  conversation  as  the  sun  sank 
lower  in  the  sky. 

"Nay,"  rejoined  Tirzah;  "but  what  of  our  Lord 
Jediah?  In  the  years  that  are  gone  he  went  up  to 
Babylon — ay,  and  he  tarried  there  a  long  time." 

"And  sayest  thou  that  he  returned  to  our  tents 
unchanged,  Tirzah?" 

"  Nay,  now  I  bethink  me,  he  came  back  stern  and 
hard,  and,  being  Judge,  showed  himself  the  most  se- 
vere and  unrelenting  in  all  Judea.  But  what  could 
Babylon  have  to  do  with  that  ?" 

"  Ask  Sabaal,"  responded  Ahira  mysteriously.  "  Trust 
him  who  hath  fallen  himself  to  be  most  unmerciful  to 
others." 

All  the  Israelites  who  stood  listening  gathered  more 
closely  about  the  speaker,  with  exclamations  of  wonder 
and  of  excitement.  And  Tirzah  cried  out — 

"  Fallen !  Jediah,  our  Lord  and  Judge,  fallen  ? 
What  art  thou  saying  ?" 

"  What  I  do  know.  Sabaal  hath  been  long  slave  in 
Babylon,  and  he  knoweth  many  in  the  city,  ay,  even 

71 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

the  Babylonians.  For  he  is  a  cunning  man  and  full 
of  craft." 

"And  what  saith  Sabaal,  Ahira?" 

"  When  Elcia,  wife  of  Johanan,  fled  our  tents  and 
went  to  Babylon,  it  was  at  the  bidding  of  Jediah." 

"  Nay,"  cried  Tirzah,  "  such  a  thing  is  not  possible  !" 

"  Sabaal  bath  told  me  that  it  was  so.  He  learned  it 
from  one  Migdapul,  a  Babylonian,  who  selleth  goods 
to  the  foolish  women  of  the  city." 

"  But  Johanan  went  up  to  Babylon  with  our  Lord 
Jediah." 

"  Ay,  and  what  befell  him  there  ?  Some  one  in  the 
city  seized  him,  and,  carrying  him  into  a  secret  place, 
put  out  his  eyes." 

"  But  why  did  they  do  this  dreadful  thing,  Ahira  ?" 

"  That  he  might  not  find  Elcia." 

"  And  by  whose  order  was  it  done  ?" 

"'Twas  never  known.  Some  say  it  was  the  deed  of 
Elcia." 

"A  maiden!  Nay,  nay;  such  work  is  not  for 
women." 

"And  some  say" — here  he  lowered  his  voice  and 
looked  cautiously  around — "  some  say  that  Jediah  him- 
self was  the  cause." 

"Better  had  they  slain  him  at  once,"  exclaimed 
Tirzah. 

"  True,  but  men  fear  blood-guiltiness." 

"  How  horrible !     How  horrible !" 

"  Mayhap  it  was  Johanan's  sight  against  Jediah's 
life,  and " 

"  And  '  if  a  damsel  is  betrothed  unto  one  man,  and 
72 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

another  take  her,  then  shall  ye  bring  them  both  out 
unto  the  gates  of  the  city,  and  ye  shall  stone  them 
with  stones  until  they  die.'  Thus  saith  the  law." 

"  Ay,"  said  Ahira,  breaking  into  a  grim  laugh. 
"  And  yet,  how  men  will  risk  even  stoning  unto  death 
— when  they  do  love !  Now " 

He  paused,  looking  at  the  women  who  stood  near. 
They  moved  onward  to  the  well,  and  he  continued — 

"  Lemuel  loveth  his  brother's  betrothed,  Elna " 

"What!"  exclaimed  Tirzah.  "Hush!  What  art 
thou  saying?" 

"  The  very  truth,  I  do  assure  thee.  Hast  thou  not 
eyes  to  see  ?  And  Elna,  betrothed  unto  Jediah,  loveth 
Lemuel." 

"  Silence !  To  say  that  is  to  endanger  Lemuel's  life 
and  the  hopes  of  captive  Israel.  But  lo !  here  cometh 
Elua.  If  she  should  have  heard  thee  !" 

Indeed  at  this  moment  Elna  came  towards  the  well. 
She  was  now  a  lovely  maiden.  Her  face  was  oval  and 
fair-complexioned,  with  dark  blue  eyes  under  long 
lashes.  Her  figure  was  tall  and  slim  almost  as  a  boy's, 
and  her  long  curling  black  hair  streamed  down  over 
her  shoulders  and  made  a  cloud  above  her  white  and 
noble  brow.  Her  expression  was  innocent  and  tender, 
but  rather  sad,  as  if  some  secret  apprehension  oppressed 
her.  Now  as  she  came  forward  to  the  two  men,  she 
said  anxiously — 

"What  sayest  thou?  What  danger  threateneth 
Lemuel !" 

"  Nay,  nay — heed  not,  Elna,"  said  Tirzah  hastily. 

The  women  from  the  well  had  once  again  drawn 

73 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

near.  Elna  looked  round  upon  them  questioningly  as 
she  repeated — 

"  What  danger  unto  Lemuel  ?  Why  do  you  all  look 
so  strange?  What  danger?  Speak  thou,  Ahira." 

"Nay,  'tis  but  maids'  gossip,"  answered  Ahira  cau- 
tiously. "  But,  in  very  sooth,  Babylon  is  a  dangerous 
place  for  one  like  Lemuel,  who  loves  his  people.  Our 
brothers  groan  in  slavery  under  the  Babylonian  yoke — 
it  may  be,  when  Lemuel  comes  among  them  that  they 
will  turn  to  Zoar's  son  as  unto  a  new  deliverer.  Is  not 
that  danger  enough  ?" 

"  Alas  !"  said  Elna,  with  agitation,  "  and  Lemuel  will 
not  pause  to  think  of  danger." 

"  Lemuel  is  brave,  reckless.  He  needs  a  friend  to 
teach  him  caution,"  said  Tirzah.  "  But  is  he  indeed 
resolved  to  leave  all  and  go  to  Babylon  ?" 

"  Yea,  he  is  resolved,"  said  Elna. 

"  Who  goeth  with  him  ?"  asked  Tirzah. 

"  None.     He  goeth  alone." 

"  Nay,  interrupted  Ahira,  "  he  will  go  with  Alorus, 
and  Alorus  is  mighty  in  Babylon." 

"  Alorus  may  be  his  host,"  said  Elna,  still  with  great 
anxiety,  "  but  Alorus  is  of  the  oppressors — not  of  our 
people.  His  hand  would  be  raised  against  Lemuel,  not 
for  him,  did  Lemuel  strive  for  freedom." 

"  Hush !"  said  Tirzah.     «  Here  be  Zoar  and  Jediah." 

As  she  spoke,  those  that  were  gathered  around  her 
moved  off  to  their  work,  but  not  ere  Jediah,  whose 
fierce  eyes  had  seen  their  idleness,  had  cried  out — 

"To  your  work!  Must  the  sun  go  down  ere  the 
herds  be  watered  ?  Hence !" 

74 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

Then  he  turned  towards  Zoar  and  spoke  with  him  in 
a  low  voice. 

Zoar  was  now  become  very  old.  His  long  white 
beard  flowed  down  upon  his  breast.  His  gait  was 
somewhat  feeble,  and  his  sight  was  growing  dim.  But 
his  spirit  was  still  proud  and  unquenchable,  his  heart 
still  kind  and  just.  He  was  respected  by  all,  but — 
more — he  was  beloved.  Jediah  too  was  greatly  aged 
in  the  years  that  had  passed  since  his  return  from 
Babylon.  His  hair  was  streaked  here  and  there  with 
grey.  His  face  had  become  more  rugged  and  forbid- 
ding, his  mouth  hard  and  lined.  But  his  tall  figure 
was  erect  and  his  aspect  commanding.  He  looked  a 
man  born  to  rule,  and  certain  to  rule  cruelly.  Now  he 
gazed  in  surprise  at  Elna,  who  had  fallen  on  her  knees 
at  the  feet  of  Zoar,  crying — 

"  A  boon,  my  father !" 

"  What  is  thy  need,  my  daughter?"  answered  Zoar 
tenderly. 

She  cast  a  frightened  and  abashed  glance  towards 
Jediah.  Then  she  replied — 

"  I  beseech  thee,  my  lord,  let  not  Lemuel,  thy  son, 
go  forth  to  Babylon  unattended." 

"What  matter  is  it  of  thine  what  Lemuel  doth?" 
interrupted  Jediah  sternly. 

Elna  rose  from  her  knees,  but  still  gazed  imploringly 
at  Zoar,  as  she  said — 

"  Is  it  not  ordained  that  I  wed  his  brother  ?  And 
may  not  a  sister " 

"My  mother  needs  thee,"  Jediah  said  roughly. 
"  My  father  and  I  have  weightier  matters " 

75 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  What  weightier  matters  than  my  brother's  safety 
canst  thou  have,  oh  my  lord?"  asked  Elna,  striving  to 
control  her  emotion. 

"  The  sons  of  Zoar  are  not  wont  to  seek  their  safety 
at  the  hands  of  their  women,"  said  Jediah,  casting  a 
piercing  glance  upon  her. 

"But,  tell  me,  daughter,"  said  Zoar,  sitting  down 
upon  a  tree-trunk  to  rest  his  aged  limbs,  "  tell  me  what 
peril  threatens  Lemuel  ?" 

"  Oh  my  father,  it  is  said  among  the  people  that  our 
brethren  who  are  slaves  in  Babylon  may  look  to  the 
coming  of  Lemuel  as  to  a  deliverer." 

"  That  is  but  the  gossip  of  the  women,"  said  Jediah. 
«  Go  hence,  Elna." 

But  Elna,  carried  away  by  her  emotion,  heeded  not 
his  command.  She  seized  the  thin  and  wrinkled  hand 
of  Zoar,  and  reiterated  in  a  trembling  voice — 

"  Zoar,  I  beseech  thee,  hearken  unto  thy  servant !" 

"  Go  hence,"  said  Jediah,  more  roughly.  "  Art  thou 
betrothed  unto  me  and  dost  not  obey  the  words  of  my 
mouth  ?" 

"But— but " 

She  still  hesitated,  trembling  but  determined.  And 
at  this  moment  Lemuel  himself  entered,  bearing  in  his 
mighty  arms  a  lamb  of  the  flocks  that  was  sick  and 
that  he  tended  with  all  the  care  and  love  of  a  woman. 
For  he  was  kind  to  all  things  that  were  weak  and  suf- 
fering. Jediah  cast  a  dark  glance  upon  him,  and  then 
said  sternly — 

"  I  have  spoken  !" 

"Brother!"  said  Lemuel,  looking  with  deep  pity 
76 


at  the  beautiful  eyes  of  Elna,  which  were  full  of 
tears. 

"  Go  hence !"  exclaimed  Jediah  furiously,  with  a 
movement  towards  Elna  as  if  to  thrust  her  away. 

"  Elna,"  said  Lemuel  gently,  interposing  himself  be- 
tween them,  "  my  mother  calls  thee.  Go  to  her." 

Elna  stood  still  for  a  moment,  looking  up  into  his 
face.  Then  she  turned  away  to  go,  murmuring — 

"  My  lord,  I  obey." 

"  Stay,  Elna,"  said  Jediah,  taking  a  sudden  step  for- 
ward towards  her,  "  stay !  Tell  us — whom  dost  thou 
obey?" 

And  he  glanced  jealously  from  her  to  Lemuel,  who 
had  set  down  the  lamb  under  the  shade  of  a  bush  and 
now  stood  with  his  bare  arms  folded  and  his  eyes  fixed 
ever  on  Elna. 

The  maiden  hesitated,  casting  down  her  eyes. 

"  Whom  ?"  reiterated  Jediah. 

"  Him  who  is  my  lord,"  Elna  replied  at  length,  in  a 
very  low  voice. 

And  then,  without  daring  to  lift  her  eyes,  she  turned 
away  and  disappeared  among  the  trees,  going  towards 
the  tents. 

"Him  who  is  my  lord?"  said  Jediah.  "Lord  of 
what  ?  Her  body  or  her  soul  ?" 

And  he  looked  at  Lemuel,  as  if  for  an  answer. 

"  Why  speak  so  harshly  to  Elna,  my  brother  ?"  said 
Lemuel  quietly. 

"  I  spoke  to  my  betrothed  wife.  Must  I  fashion  my 
words  to  please  thee  ?" 

Lemuel  seemed  about  to  make  a  hot  reply  to  the 

77 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

sneering  question,  but  with  an  effort  he  controlled 
himself,  and,  going  up  to  Zoar,  who  still  sat,  resting, 
upon  the  tree-trunk,  he  said  to  him — 

"  Of  what  was  Elna  speaking,  my  father  ?" 

"  Of  Babylon  and  of  our  brethren  who  are  bond- 
slaves there,  my  son — and  of  their  dreams." 

"  What  are  their  dreams,  my  father?" 

"  They  do  dream  of  a  deliverer." 

"  Ah !"  said  Jediah,  with  cynical  bitterness.  "  They 
wait  for  a  deliverer!  Now,  as  ever,  there  is  one  to 
come  who  will  restore  Israel  and  make  her  again  a 
nation.  Dreams,  indeed !  Dreams!" 

"  Dreams !"  said  Lemuel,  and  a  great  light  came  into 
his  eyes,  as  if  he  saw  some  bright  and  beautiful  vision 
afar  off  among  the  coloured  clouds  of  the  fair  evening 
sky.  "  It  may  be,  but  so  they  dreamed  in  Egypt,  and 
the  deliverer  came.  Father!  father!  a  new  prophet 
hath  arisen  in  the  land,  and  he  hath  foretold  the  fall 
of  the  mighty — yea,  even  of  Babylon — and  the  coming 
together  of  the  tribes  of  Israel.  Thus  hath  he  spoken  : 
'He  that  scattered  Israel  will  gather  him,  and  keep 
him,  as  a  shepherd  doth  his  flock.  And  He  will  turn 
his  mourning  into  joy,  and  will  comfort  him,  and  he 
shall  come  again  from  the  land  of  the  enemy.' " 

"Dreams,  I  tell  thee,"  said  Jediah  scornfully. 
"  Dreams !  dreams !  Shall  we  go  up  against  Babylon 
with  our  reaping-hooks  and  with  our  sickles?  And 
shall  her  walls  and  her  gates  open  at  our  approach  ? 
Shall  the  shepherd's  crook  indeed  prevail  against  the 
sword  and  the  spear?" 

"  So  the  shepherd  David  prevailed  against  the  giant 

78 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

of  the  Philistines,"  answered  Lemuel,  with  a  brave 
enthusiasm.  "  Israel  a  nation !" 

He  clasped  his  hands  together  as  if  he  prayed,  and 
his  whole  countenance  was  inspired  with  glowing 
courage  and  hope.  But  Jediah,  crossing  over  to  the 
well  and  taking  in  his  hand  a  pitcher,  answered 
coldly — 

"Israel  will  be  no  more  a  nation.  God's  curse  is 
upon  the  people." 

He  bent  down  his  head  to  drink.  Then,  lifting  him- 
self up  again,  he  added — 

"  Go  up  unto  Babylon,  brother.  Behold  her  in  her 
mightiness,  and  then  return  unto  our  tents  to  toil  for 
her  tribute." 

"Tribute!"  said  Zoar  feebly.  "Ay,  while  ye  are 
talking,  the  Lord  Alorus  waits  for  our  tribute,  and  it 
is  yet  uncounted.  Come,  Jediah,  thine  arm.  Lemuel, 
my  son,  put  all  these  vain  dreams  from  thee.  Hearken 
not  unto  them.  Be  not  deceived  by  the  diviners  and 
the  false  prophets  that  tell  thee,  'Thou  shalt  not 
serve  the  king  that  reigneth  in  Babylon.'  For  it  is 
the  Lord's  will.  Even  so  doth  He  punish  us  for  our 
transgressions.  Submit  thy  neck  to  the  yoke,  my  son. 
Submit  in  patience." 

He  rose  up  slowly  and  heavily,  for  he  was  old  and 
weary.  Then  leaning  upon  the  arm  of  Jediah,  he 
walked  away,  repeating  in  a  feeble  voice — 

"  Submit,  ay — the  yoke — the  yoke !" 

But  Lemuel  remained  alone  beside  the  well,  nothing 
daunted.  For  he  was  young  and  brave  and  strong. 
Life  lay  before  him  with  all  its  shining  deeds  and 

79 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

golden  promises — life,  with  its  mighty  struggles  and 
its  great  achievements.     How  then  could  he  fear  ? 

"  Submit !"  he  said  to  himself.  "  Nay,  is  not  this 
submission  itself  a  sin?  Ever  in  bondage!  As  we 
served  in  Egypt,  so  now  we  serve  in  Babylon.  And 
there  is  no  strange  nation  that  is  not  strange  enough 
to  make  Israel  a  slave.  But — but" —  and  he  smiled 
with  a  proud  confidence — "  it  is  not  for  ever.  It  shall 
not  be  for  ever.  Ah,  Sabaal !  is  it  thou  ?" 

Sabaal  came  to  the  well  swiftly,  and  sat  down  at  its 
edge,  by  Lemuel,  who  continued — 

"  Ah,  Sabaal !  is  it  but  a  dream,  as  my  father  telleth 
me?  Are  we  born  slaves?  Is  bondage  our  inheri- 
tance? Are  my  father  and  brother  wiser  than  we, 
who  counsel  me  to  stay  in  the  tents  and  forget  this 
vision  of  freedom  ?" 

"  There  are  those  who  are  born  to  serve  and  those 
who  are  born  to  rule.  If  thou  art  weak  or  afraid, 
turn  back — stay  by  the  knees  of  thy  mother.  Baby- 
lon, with  its  strife,  is  not  for  thee.  Be  thine  the  shep- 
herd's crook  and  the  harvester's  sickle." 

Sabaal  spoke  deliberately,  fixing  his  cunning  eyes 
upon  Lemuel  to  note  the  effect  of  his  words. 

"  Here,  at  least,  there  is  peace,"  said  Lemuel.  "  Peace 
and " 

"And  Elna?" 

"Elna!  What  sayest  thou?  Elna  is  betrothed  to 
my  brother  Jediah." 

"  And  therein  lies  thy  peace  ?  When  Jediah  espouses 
Elna,  Lemuel  will  rejoice,  and  in  Jediah's  love  Lemuel 
will  find  happiness !" 

80 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF   BABYLON 

"  Hush,  Sabaal !  hush !"  said  Lemuel,  with  a  look  of 
pain.  "  Thou  art  indeed  right.  There  can  be  no  peace 
or  happiness  for  me  where  Elna  dwells  as  Jediah's  wife. 
But  what  further  news  ?" 

"  At  least  a  score  of  those  who  travel  with  us  can  be 
relied  upon  to  strike  for  us.  The  road  is  dark  over  the 
desert.  Knives  are  sharp  and  silent,  and  Alorus,  the 
Babylonian,  is  our  foe.  Let  the  sons  of  Zoar  strike 
where  there  are  none  to  see." 

And,  while  he  spoke,  he  caught  Lemuel  eagerly 
by  the  arm  and  leaned  forward,  peering  into  his  face. 
But  Lemuel  moved  back  as  if  in  horror,  and  an- 
swered— 

"  Ah !  is  it  thus  that  Israel  is  to  be  freed  ?  In  dark- 
ness and  with  the  knife  of  the  assassin ?  Nay!  Our 
God  is  the  God  of  battles,  not  of  murder." 

"  But  He  hath  delivered  the  Lord  Alorus,  who  is  our 
enemy,  into  our  hands." 

"  No  more,  Sabaal,  no  more !"  exclaimed  Lemuel. 
"  Alorus  is  our  guest.  He  hath  tasted  salt  with  us, 
and  his  life  is  sacred." 

"  I  counsel  thee " 

"  Thou  counsellest  according  to  thy  wisdom,"  an- 
swered Lemuel,  with  decision,  "  I  judge  according  to 
mine.  I  have  spoken.  To  thy  work !" 

Sabaal  had  got  up.  He  stood  now,  looking  angered 
and  cowed.  Keeping  his  eyes  on  the  ground,  he  said 
slowly — 

"  Those  who  await  thee  in  Babylon  will  ask  much 
of  thee.     Take  heed,  oh  son  of  Zoar,  lest  they  weigh 
thee  in  the  balance  and  find  thee  wanting." 
6  8l 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

Then  he  moved  away,  his  head  bent  upon  his  breast, 
his  thick  lips  curled  in  a  malignant  smile. 

"  Are  these  the  instruments  chosen  by  a  righteous 
God  to  free  His  people  ?"  thought  Lemuel.  "  Is  there 
no  choice  between  murder  and  bondage  for  our  race  ? 
Shall  I  forget  the  dreams  ?  Shall  I  endure  and  stay  in 
my  father's  tents  ?  And  Elna— Elna " 

Unwittingly  he  spoke  the  last  words  aloud.  A  soft 
voice  answered  him — 

"  Did'st  thou  call  me,  Lemuel  ?" 

And  he  beheld  Elna  standing  near  him,  with  her 
great  blue  eyes  fixed  upon  his  face. 

"  Nay,  my  sister,"  answered  Lemuel,  with  forced  in- 
difference. "  Nay,  I  called  thee  not." 

"  Are  thou  angered  with  me  ?" 

"  No,"  answered  Lemuel,  moving  away  as  if  to  leave 
her.  "  Why  should  I  be  angered  with  thee  ?" 

"  Art  thou  going  ?"  asked  the  maiden,  and  she  made 
a  movement  as  if  to  detain  him,  then  hesitated,  and 
slightly  retreated  as  if  in  confusion. 

"  Why  should  I  stay  ?"  asked  Lemuel,  pausing. 

"  It  may  be  that  I  shall  not  speak  to  thee  alone 
again — if,  indeed,  thou  wilt  go  to  Babylon." 

"  I  must  go  thither.  And,  perchance,  it  will  be  bet- 
ter if  we  two  speak  not  alone  again." 

Elna  moved  towards  the  well,  saying  softly — 

"  Why  art  thou  so  changed  to  me,  Lemuel  ?" 

"  Changed  ?  Ah,  Elna,  thou  knowest  that  I  am 
changeless.  Thou  knowest  each  thought  of  my  heart." 

"Once  I  deemed  so,"  she  replied,  seating  herself 
by  the  well  and  looking  down  into  its  deep  and 

82 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

still  waters,  "but  that  seems  long,  long  ago.  And 
now " 

"  Thou  knowest  them  still.  But  I  may  never  utter 
them,  for  that  way  waiteth  dishonour  and  death.  Let 
us  part." 

"  Part  thus  ?" 

"How  else?" 

"  Once  thou  wert  kinder  to  me." 

"  Once  I  dared  to  be  kind.     That  time  is  past." 

"Why?" 

"Remember  thou  art  the  betrothed  wife  of  my 
brother  Jediah." 

"  Yea,  and  I  was  betrothed  as  a  child,  ere  ever  I 
knew  myself  and  my  own  heart.  Now  I  know  I  love 
him  not." 

"  But  thou  art  betrothed,  and  by  the  law  thou  art 
his." 

"  By  the  law  of  man,  yes.  But  what  of  God's  law  ? 
By  His  will  my  love  was  given  unto  thee.  Shall  I, 
knowing  this,  give  myself  to  Jediah? — breaking  the 
law  of  God  to  fulfil  the  law  of  man  ?  Living  a  lie— 
a  lifelong  lie — degrading  my  body  and  forswearing  my 
soul  ?  No !  Sooner  than  that,  I  would  give  back  my 
soul  to  Him  who  made  it !" 

And  as  she  spoke  she  drew  from  her  bosom  a  knife, 
and  ran  her  delicate  fingers  along  the  blade  with  a 
motion  that  was  almost  caressing.  Lemuel  looked  at 
her  for  a  moment  with  horror.  Then  he  laid  his  hand 
upon  the  knife,  took  it  from  her,  and  exclaimed — 

"  Elna,  my  Elna !  for  pity's  sake  make  not  my  task 
the  harder !  We  must  do  that  which  is  right  and  just. 

83 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

I  will  leave  ray  father's  house  to-night — God  of  our 
people  grant  never  to  return  to  it !  There  is  no  light, 
no  day,  no  hope  for  me  here,  where  thou  livest,  wife 
of  Jediah.  Away  from  thee  there  is  but  darkness, 
night,  despair — and  yet  I  must  go.  For  the  burthen 
of  duty  is  heavy  upon  me.  Help  me  to  bear  it,  Elna." 

And  as  he  spoke  he  leaned  down  to  her  and  took  her 
two  hands  in  his.  She  trembled,  swaying  towards  him 
as  if  she  would  hide  her  face  in  his  bosom.  But  sud- 
denly he  dropped  her  hands  and  sprang  to  his  feet. 
He  had  seen  Jediah  -approaching  among  the  palms. 
And  even  at  the  same  moment  came  the  Lord  Alorus 
with  his  friend  Menanahim,  and  other  Babylonians 
from  the  opposite  direction.  Jediah,  his  face  white 
with  anger,  strode  towards  his  brother,  his  arm  up- 
raised as  if  to  strike  him,  but  Alorus  interposed,  look- 
ing from  one  to  the  other  with  an  amused  smile. 

"  Stay !"  he  said,  "  stay !" 

His  eye  fell  upon  Elna,  who  stood  with  her  eyes 
downcast,  while  her  lovely  face  was  suffused  with 
blushes. 

"Ah!"  he  continued,  "it  is  the  beautiful  Elna! 
Maiden,  I  am  thy  slave.  Lemuel,  how  I  do  envy  thee  1" 

"  I  do  not  understand  thy  words,  my  lord,"  said  Lem- 
uel, looking  his  brother  full  in  the  face. 

"  Nay,  then  thou  art  not  quick-witted,  shepherd. 
See,  Menanahim,  is  not  this  a  gem  worthy  of  e'en  a 
Babylonish  setting  ?" 

"  A  gem  so  rare  is  best  unset,"  Menanahim  answered, 
laughing.  "It  should  be  kept  where  none  can  gaze 
upon  it  save  its  owner.  Such  gems  do  not  make  even 

84 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

the  honest  rogues.  Now  I,  for  instance,  I  am  esteemed 

fairly  honest,  and  yet Ah,  well,  friend  Lemuel, 

lock  up  thy  gem." 

And  he  gazed  impudently  at  Elna,  and  turning, 
smiled  significantly  at  the  Babylonians  who  accom- 
panied the  Lord  Alorus. 

"  My  lords  are  pleased  to  jest,"  said  Lemuel  calmly, 
though  his  eyes  shone  with  the  light  of  anger.  "  Elna, 
wilt  thou  go  and  tell  my  father,  Zoar,  that  the  Lord 
Alorus  waits." 

Elna  bowed  her  head  and  moved  towards  the  tents, 
but  Alorus  stopped  her,  saying  gaily — 

"  Nay,  maiden,  rob  us  not  of  thy  beauty  so  soon. 
We  will  go  and  find  him  together." 

"He  comes  hither,  my  lord,"  said  Lemuel  quietly, 
"  and  so  spares  our  pains." 

The  aged  Zoar  indeed  approached,  accompanied  and 
assisted  by  his  faithful  wife,  Naomi,  to  whom  Alorus 
inclined  himself  in  half-satirical  obeisance,  crying — 

"Here  is  the  fount  of  beauty!  Source  of  much 
loveliness,  we  are  thy  grateful  slaves." 

"  How  shall  I  answer  my  lord  that  understand  not 
his  speech  ?"  answered  Naomi,  with  quiet  dignity. 

"  Do  not  thine  eyes  answer  for  thee,"  said  Alorus, 
"  those  eyes  that  are  so  like  unto  this  maid's — thy 
child." 

"  Nay,  my  lord,  Elna  is  not  my  child,"  said  Naomi. 

"  She  is  like  unto  thee." 

"  She  is  the  child  of  my  dead  sister." 

"  She  is  more  than  fair,"  returned  Alorus. 

Then  going  close  up  to  Elna,  and  with  the  easy  im- 

85 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

pudence  of  a  conqueror  among  slaves,  he  said  to 
her — 

"  Maiden,  I  pray  thee  do  not  hate  me." 

"  Why  should  I  hate  my  lord  ?"  asked  Elna,  shrink- 
ing back. 

"  Because  this  night  I  do  take  thy  lover  from  thee 
to  Babylon." 

"  My  lord !"  cried  Elna. 

"Whom  dost  thou  mean?"  said  Lemuel,  stepping 
forward  till  he  stood  before  Alorus. 

"He  is  not  her  lover!"  exclaimed  Jediah.  "The 
maiden  is  betrothed  unto  me." 

Alorus  started  with  feigned  and  exaggerated  aston- 
ishment. 

"  To  thee  ?  A  mistake  indeed  !  A  dull  and  stupid 

mistake  !  I  crave  pardon.  I  judged  by Ah,  well, 

Lemuel,  so  much  the  better.  Then  thou  art  free — free 
to  taste  the  sweets  that  wait  for  thee  in  Babylon." 

Lemuel  made  no  reply,  but  Naomi,  with  all  the  sweet 
anxiety  of  a  tender  mother,  cried — 

"  Ah,  sir,  you  will  take  care  of  my  son !  This  Baby- 
lon of  thine  is,  they  tell  me,  as  treacherous  as  she  is 
beautiful." 

"  Treacherous  she  may  be,"  replied  Alorus,  "  but  she 
is  beautiful,  sitting  in  glory  upon  Euphrates'  banks. 
Her  streets  are  rows  of  palaces,  towering  terrace  upon 
terrace,  fragrant  with  flowers  that  perfume  the  whole 
air.  For  Babylon  doth  Lebanon  grow  her  cedars  and 
sweet-smelling  woods  ;  Assyria  her  grapes.  Tyre  and 
Sidon  exist  only  to  weave  our  silks  and  samites. 
Egypt  toils  in  brass  and  in  gold  to  deck  our  homes, 

86 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

our  horses,  and  our  own  tenderly  nurtured  bodies; 
while  all  the  mines  of  Araby  and  of  Ophir  yield  their 
tribute  to  deck  our  women.  Ah  !  our  women !  How 
lovely  they  are  !  And  foremost  among  them  all  ranks 
one  who,  like  her  fabled  namesake,  is  a  goddess,  towards 
whom  men's  love  doth  flow  as  naturally  as  doth  the 
river  to  the  sea.  Ishtar !  The  fair  and  radiant  Ishtar ! 
Jediah,  did'st  thou  ever  see  Ishtar?" 

"  Nay,  my  lord,"  answered  Jediah. 

"  She  came  to  Babylon  some  four  or  five  years  ago." 

Jediah  started  slightly.  A  strange  thought  had  been 
born  in  his  mind,  he  knew  not  why. 

"  She  is  like  one  of  thy  women,"  continued  Alorus. 
"  Tall,  with  hair  and  eyes  like  the  night  and  the  shining 
stars,  and  the  most  cunning  dimples  about  her  mouth." 

"  Can  it  be  Elcia  ?"  murmured  Jediah  to  himself. 

Aloud,  and  hastily,  he  said — 

"  My  Lord  Alorus,  the  tally  of  the  tribute  is  here. 
Wilt  thou  not  verify  it,  and  give  thy  receipt  and  seal  ?" 

"  Nay,  nay,"  answered  Alorus,  with  dandified  pettish- 
ness,  as  he  arranged  the  great  golden  bracelets  starred 
with  uncut  jewels  that  bedecked  his  arms.  "  These 
details  I  leave  to  Kedemoth  here.  Kedemoth,  do  thou 
verify  it.  Bring  it  with  thee  to  the  tents." 

He  looked  again  towards  Elna.  Then  he  said  to 
Jediah — 

"  She  is  thy  betrothed,  say'st  thou  ?  Then  will  we 
leave  thee  with  her.  By  thy  countenance  I  divine 
that  thou  would'st  speak  with  her  alone.  Hither,  my 
people!  Hither,  Zoar!" 

He  burst  into  a  laugh,  and  calling  to  those  around 

87 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

him,  turned  away  from  the  well,  followed  by  the  whole 
company.  Elna  seemed  as  if  she  would  fain  go  with 
Naomi,  but  Jediah  stopped  her,  saying — 

"  Nay,  Elna,  stay  awhile.  I  would  speak  with  thee 
here  and  now." 

"  Yes,  my  lord,"  she  answered  submissively. 

"When  all  the  people  were  gone,  Jediah  said — 

"  Elna,  this  night  Lemuel " 

But,  ere  he  could  say  more,  Elna,  speaking  with  great 
agitation,  said — 

"  My  lord,  thou  hast  heard  what  this  man  hath  said 
of  Babylon — the  life  he  hath  described.  Shall  Lemuel 
go  forth  alone  ?" 

"It  is  his  own  desire  to  go,"  answered  Jediah,  with 
bitter  coldness.  "  Lemuel  is  no  babe  nor  girl.  I  went 
alone — why  not  he  ?" 

"  There  are  dangers  for  Lemuel  that  existed  not  for 
thee.  Thou  knowest  what  our  people  may  expect  of 
him.  Wilt  thou  let  him  go  forth  alone  ?" 

"  Why  this  concern  for  Lemuel's  safety  ?" 

"  Is  he  not  thy  brother  ?" 

"  Brother !"  exclaimed  Jediah,  with  an  angry  gesture. 
"  Ah,  most  tender  sister !  No  other  feeling  moves  thee 
—eh  ?" 

"  What  other  feeling  could  move  me,  my  lord  ?" 

"Love!  Thinkest  thou,  then,  that  I  am  blind,  a 
child,  bereft  of  sight,  of  reason  ?  Doth  a  sister  tremble 
when  a  brother  draweth  nigh  ?  Doth  her  heart  throb, 
sending  the  hot  blood  surging  to  her  brow  when  a 
brother  speaketh?  Or  do  her  eyes  brim  over  with 
gushing  tears  when  a  brother  is  absent  ?" 

88 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

«  And  this " 


"And  this  I  have  seen  and  known  in  thee  for 
Lemuel.  Even  now  thine  eyes  do  seek  the  ground — 
the  blush  of  shame  is  on  thy  cheek.  Thy  breath 
cometh  quick.  All  these  things  are  truths  that  give 
the  words  thy  tongue  dare  not  utter." 

"Oh,  my  lord,"  cried  Elna  passionately,  "if  indeed 
all  this  be  true — if  in  my  heart  there  is  no  love  for 
thee — if  all  that  is  pure  and  good  and  true  calls  out 
aloud  in  me  against  the  law  that  gives  me  unto  thee 
for  wife — wilt  thou  still  hold  me  to  the  bond?" 

"  Yea,"  said  Jediah  sternly,  "  yea,  unto  death." 

"Ah!  why— why?" 

"Because  thou  dost  love  him.  Because  I  do  hate 
him  for  this  love  of  thine ;  and  as  I  have  suffered, 
seeing  thy  heart  was  his,  so  shall  he  suffer,  knowing 
thy  body  is  mine." 

"  I  beg  of  thee,  Jediah,  hearken  to  me !"  said  Elna 
imploringly.  "  This  union  of  our  hands,  which  love 
doth  not  cement,  can  bring  but  evil  unto  thee  and  me. 
I  beseech  thee,  give  me  back  my  troth — even  though  I 
ne'er  see  Lemuel  more.  Let  me  be  free !" 

"  Thou  shalt  be  that " 

"  When  ?    When,  Jediah  ?" 

"  When  that  I  am  dead.  Thou  knowest  our  law — 
death  to  the  woman  who  breaks  her  troth,  death  to 
the  man  with  whom  she  is  false." 

"  Ah  !  thou  art  merciless,  pitiless,  without  bowels  of 
tenderness  or  remorse.  But  thou  art  not  omnipotent. 
Thou  hast  the  law  to  aid  thee,  and  all  its  power  to 
enforce  it  on  me.  I  stand  alone,  with  naught  but  love 

89 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

to  help  me.  Yet  a  woman's  love  hath  proved  ere  now 
too  strong  for  all  the  laws  of  man.  What  hath  been 
may  be  again.  Man's  law  can  slay  my  body ;  it  can 
never  kill  my  love." 

She  spoke  with  all  the  vehemence  of  one  completely 
carried  away  by  a  flood  of  emotion  that  rendered  her 
careless  of  all  save  the  necessity  of  expressing  herself 
fully  and  completely.  And,  on  the  last  words,  she 
drew  back  from  Jediah  with  a  gesture  almost  of  ha- 
tred, and  hurried  away  towards  the  tent  of  Naomi. 
Her  heart  beat  with  a  violence  that  nearly  choked  her. 
The  blood  coursed  in  her  cheeks.  But  she  no  longer 
felt  any  sensation  of  fear.  Indeed,  a  wave  of  almost 
wild  courage  ran  through  her,  and,  for  the  moment, 
she  was  careless  of  fate,  careless  of  all  save  love  alone. 

And  the  fierce  emotion  that  surged  in  Elna  had  not 
left  Jediah  unmoved.  He  too  was  carried  out  of  him- 
self, and,  as  she  left  him,  he  cried  out  in  a  loud  voice 
to  an  Israelite  who  passed  by,  laden  with  packs  for  the 
camels  of  Alorus'  caravan — 

"  Jozadah !     Jozadah  !" 

The  Israelite  stopped.  He  was  a  lean  and  hungry- 
looking  man,  poorly  clad  and  of  an  evil  countenance. 
His  eyes,  which  were  unusually  small  for  one  of  his 
race,  were  set  near  together  in  his  head  beneath  project- 
ing brows.  And  his  gait  was  habitually  gentle  and  cring- 
ing, like  that  of  a  dog  which  has  been  often  beaten. 

"  Come  hither,  Jozadah,"  said  Jediah  imperiously. 

Jozadah  advanced  a  few  steps. 

"  What  is  thy  will,  my  lord  ?"  he  asked,  in  a  whining 
voice. 

90 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Jozadah,"  said  Jediah,  coming  close  to  him,  "  thou 
art  poor." 

"  My  lord  hath  spoken.     Would  it  were  not  so." 

"  Thou  hast  neither  flocks,  nor  herds,  nor  fields,  nor 
pastures." 

"  My  lord  knoweth  these  things  are  true." 

While  he  was  speaking  the  last  words,  Tirzah  came 
into  sight  among  the  palms,  unseen  by  the  two 
men.  As  she  was  drawing  near  to  them,  Jediah 
said — 

"  And  yet,  Jozadab,  beggar  as  thou  art,  thou  hast 
set  thine  eyes  and  thy  heart  on  Tirzah." 

On  bearing  her  name  spoken,  the  woman,  full  of 
curiosity,  hid  herself  behind  the  trunk  of  a  tree  from 
which  concealment  she  could  hear  all  that  went  on 
without  being  observed. 

"Tirzah  is  very  fair,"  said  Jozadah  obsequiously, 
and  casting  his  eyes  upon  the  ground,  "  and  my  lord 
knoweth  that  even  a  beggar  may  have  a  heart  like 
other  men." 

"  Ay,  but  Tirzah's  father  is  prudent ;  not  like  to  give 
his  daughter  to  a  man  whose  whole  stock  of  worldly 
goods  is  the  few  poor  rags  that  cover  him." 

"  All  this  thy  servant  knows." 

"And,"  said  Jediah,  watching  the  beggar  with  his 
fierce  and  bird-like  eyes,  "  dost  thou  know  likewise 
that  Lemuel,  my  brother,  hath  cast  an  eye  of  longing 
upon  her?" 

Jozadah  started  as  if  he  had  been  struck  with  the 
lash  of  a  Babylonian  taskmaster,  and  Tirzah  crept  a 
little  nearer  among  the  trees. 

91 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

"  Nay,  my  lord,"  said  Jozadah,  and  his  voice  was 
hoarse  with  passion,  "  I  know  not  that." 

But  Jozadah  put  his  hand  upon  the  long  knife  that 
hung  at  his  girdle  of  camel's  hair. 

"  He  shall  not  have  her,"  he  muttered.  "  He  shall 
not  have  her." 

"  "Why  should  he  ?  To-night  he  goeth  to  Babylon. 
Babylon  is  a  dangerous  city." 

"  Ay,  so  they  say." 

"  There  are  ever  brawls  there  and  strife.  A  dark 
night,  Jozadah,  a  quick  thrust  of  a  knife,"  he  touched 
the  knife  at  the  beggar's  girdle,  as  if  almost  uncon- 
sciously, "  one  more  body  to  fling  into  the  waters  of 
Euphrates." 

"  Ay.    And  then,  my  lord,  and  then  ?" 

"  Those  fields  that  once  were  Ezra's,  a  score  of  cat- 
tle, ten  score  of  sheep — and  Tirzah  to  dwell  in  thy  tent 
and  share  thy  happiness." 

Jozadah  looked  up  under  his  thick  eyebrows  with 
unutterable  cunning. 

"  And  my  lord  sayeth  that  all  these  things  are  mine 
if— if " 

"If,  by  some  chance — such  as  happeneth  in  great 
cities — I  must  e'en  mourn  a  brother's  death  in  Baby- 
lon." 

"That  were  not  difficult.  But  the  mind  of  my  lord 
may  change.  He  will  give  his  servant  bond  for  the 
fields,  the  flocks,  the  herds  ?" 

"  I  shall  not  fail  thee.  Jozadah.  For  I  would  fain 
see  all  men — and  thee — happy,  especially  thee,  Joza- 
dah." 

92 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  My  lord  is  good." 

"  But  come — come  to  my  tent ;  there  is  but  little 
time.  For  thou  art  going  up  to  Babylon  to-night,  I 
think  ?  Is  it  not  so  ?" 

"  My  lord  hath  spoken,"  said  Jozadah. 

And  he  smiled  as  he  crept  away  after  Jediah. 

When  they  were  gone,  Tirzah  came  forth  from  her 
place  of  hiding.  Her  face  was  pale  with  horror,  and 
she  gazed  around  as  if  seeking  help.  Presently  she 
made  a  beckoning  gesture  with  her  hand,  and.  after 
two  or  three  minutes,  Elna  appeared,  running  to  her. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Tirzah  ?"  cried  Elna  anxiously. 
"  How  thou  dost  tremble !  And  the  pale  shade  of 
death  is  surely  on  thy  cheek  !  What  ails  thee  ?" 

"  Death's  pale  shade  is  indeed  about  me— and  thee, 
my  Elna.  Even  here — here  doth  he  hover,  ready  to 
strike.  Oh,  Elna — Lemuel " 

She  stopped.  Her  lips  were  dry  and  her  tongue  re- 
fused to  speak.  But  Elna  caught  her  by  the  shoulders 
with  a  wild  anxiety,  crying — 

"  What  of  Lemuel  ?    Speak,  and  quickly !" 

"  Jediah  hath  promised  Jozadah  lands  and  flocks  and 
herds  and — and  me,  even  me,  to  be  his  wife — if  Lem- 
uel dies  in  Babylon." 

Elna  turned  as  white  as  was  Tirzah. 

"God  of  our  people!"  she  exclaimed.  "He  would 
have  Jozadah  slay  him !" 

"  Even  so.  This  very  night  Jozadah  goeth  to  Baby- 
lon. Thou  knowest  what  will  come  of  this.  For 
Lemuel  goeth  alone,  with  none  to  warn  him  or  to 
watch  over  him." 

93 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  Alone !"  exclaimed  Elna,  and  her  face  was  alight 
with  a  sudden  resolution  that  made  her  look  strong 
and  courageous,  almost  as  a  man.  "  That  shall  he  not ! 
One,  at  least,  shall  be  there  who  loveth  him  and  who 
would  die  for  him." 

"  One !     Whom  dost  thou  mean  ?" 

"  Myself,  Tirzah,  myself!  Help  me  to  fly  hence  to 
save  the  man  we  love.  For  thou  dost  love  Lemuel, 
even  as  all  must.  Nay,  there  is  no  shame  in  love! 
Come,  Tirzah,  come!  Love  and  the  right  shall  con- 
quer hate  and  wrong.  Come  with  me !  Come !" 

And  she  drew  Tirzah  away  towards  the  tents, 
moving  almost  joyously.  For  in  action  each  human 
being  can  find  solace  for  the  sorrow  that  oppresseth 
and  the  dread  that  draweth  nigh. 


At  the  falling  of  night,  the  caravan  which  was  to 
accompany  the  Lord  Alorus  to  Babylon  was  ready  to 
depart,  and  Alorus  himself,  standing  before  the  tents, 
took  ceremonious  leave  of  the  aged  Zoar.  The  tribute 
was  all  collected.  The  heavy  packs  had  been  fastened 
upon  the  backs  of  the  snarling  camels.  Now,  through 
the  soft  air  of  the  evening,  rang  the  note  of  a  steer's 
horn,  giving  the  signal  of  departure.  All  the  people 
of  the  tribe  were  gathered  together  to  witness  the 
going  of  the  caravan  and  to  bid  farewell  to  Lemuel. 
Only  Elna  was  not  there.  Naomi  wept.  For  this 
parting  from  her  youngest  born  was  bitter  unto  her  as 
death.  Alorus  and  the  Babylonians  of  his  train  were 
assembled,  and  Alorus,  speaking  to  Zoar,  said — 

94 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  I  hear  the  signal,  and  the  night  falleth.  Farewell, 
Zoar." 

"Is  my  lord  content?"  answered  Zoar.  "Have  I 
paid  him  in  full  ?" 

"  Indeed,"  replied  Alorus,  "  thou  art  most  liberal  of 
all  the  sons  of  Israel.  Trust  me,  Zoar  j  I  hate  to  be 
sent  hither  to  exact  tribute  of  one  who  is  so  much  my 
friend." 

"  Thou  but  doest  thy  master's  bidding,  my  lord." 

"  Most  true,  Zoar.  And  yet,  'tis  well  when  'tis  over 
— and  it  is  over  now.  My  camels  are  loaded  with  thy 
wealth,  and  yet  none  can  see  that  thou  art  the  poorer. 
Such  flocks  hast  thou,  such  harvests,  such  pastures — 
and  such  lovely  maidens !" 

"  My  lord  will  not  speak  of  them  in  Babylon  ?" 

"Nay,  Zoar,  not  I.  Why,  she  would  swoop  upon 
thee,  and,  like  a  herd  of  locusts,  eat  thee  up.  Nay, 
Zoar,  thou  hast  proved  my  friend,  and  I  will  prove 
thine." 

"  My  lord  is  good." 

Alorus,  after  inclining  himself  before  Naomi,  walked 
towards  the  caravan,  followed  by  his  train.  The  horn 
again  sounded,  and  Naomi,  with  a  cry  of  anguish, 
clasped  Lemuel  in  her  arms. 

"  My  son !"  she  murmured,  sobbing,  "  my  youngest 
born !" 

Lemuel  returned  her  caresses.  He  too  was  deeply 
moved,  but  he  bore  himself,  as  ever,  bravely  and  nobly. 

"  My  son,"  said  Naomi,  striving  again  to  be  calm, 
"  thou  goest  among  strangers,  worshippers  of  strange 
gods.  Thou  wert  ever  obedient,  loving,  and  faithful. 

95 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

Thou  wilt  not  ever  be  tempted  to  forget  the  God  of 
thy  fathers  ?" 

"  Nay,  my  mother,"  answered  Lemuel,  and  he  fell  at 
her  feet. 

She  laid  her  hands  upon  his  head,  saying  solemnly — 

"  My  blessing  be  upon  thee,  oh,  son  of  my  soul !" 

Zoar  turned  to  the  crowd  that  stood  by,  watching 
and  strangely  moved. 

"  Lift  up  your  voices,  oh,  my  people !"  he  said.  "  Sing 
ye  His  praises,  and  give  thanks  unto  Him.  Sing  ye 
the  hymn  of  parting." 

The  people  obeyed  with  full  hearts,  and  as  the  voices 
rang  out  Lemuel  bade  farewell  to  those  he  loved,  kiss- 
ing the  little  children  who  clung  about  his  knees.  As 
the  music  died  away  he  came  to  his  brother  Jediah? 
who  stood  a  little  apart,  with  his  eyes  cast  moodily 
upon  the  ground. 

"  Farewell,  my  brother,"  Lemuel  said,  holding  forth 
his  hand. 

"  Farewell,"  responded  Jediah  coldly,  and  without 
looking  towards  him. 

Lemuel,  as  if  chilled  and  hurt,  hesitated  for  a  mo- 
ment. Then,  coming  close  to  Jediah  and  putting  his 
arm  around  his  brother,  he  said  to  him — 

"  Jediah,  thou  art  the  eldest  born  of  our  father  Zoar, 
and  unto  thee  is  given  the  first  fruits  of  the  land  and 
the  flocks,  and — and  the  jewel  of  our  tribe,  Elna." 

"Elna!"  said  Jediah  sternly.  "And  what  sayest 
thou  of  her  ?" 

"Cherish  her,  my  brother.  Guard  this  jewel  ten- 
derly, as  the  apple  of  thine  eye." 

96 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  I  will  surely  guard  her,  Lemuel,"  answered  Jediah, 
with  a  dark  frown. 

"  Farewell,  my  brother." 

"  Farewell,"  said  Jediah,  drawing  away  from  Lemuel. 

Once  more  Lemuel  knelt  before  Zoar  and  Naomi. 
The  horn  again  sounded. 

"  Farewell,  my  father  and  my  mother,"  he  said,  and 
his  voice  was  low  from  his  emotion.  "  And  may  the 
God  of  Israel  so  deal  with  me  if  I  prove  not  worthy 
of  thee.  Thy  blessing,  father." 

The  people  that  stood  by  bowed  their  heads  rever- 
ently, and  Zoar,  spreading  abroad  his  hands,  said — 

"  The  God  of  Abraham,  of  Isaac,  and  of  Jacob  be 
with  thee  and  keep  thee,  my  son,  my  son !" 

It  was  now  growing  rapidly  dark.  Lemuel  rose  up. 
It  was  time  to  depart,  yet  for  one  moment  he  lingered, 
looking  towards  the  tents.  Jediah  watched  him,  and 
knew  well  why  he  hesitated.  But  no  one  came  from 
the  tents.  No  shadowy  figure  stood  in  the  tent-door 
of  Naomi.  The  tears  rose  in  Lemuel's  eyes.  He 
turned  away  and  walked  slowly  into  the  gathering 
darkness. 

"  My  son !  my  son  !"  wailed  Naomi. 

"  Come  to  the  tent,  my  wife,  and  pray  with  me  for 
the  safety  of  thy  son  in  the  great  Babylon,"  said  Zoar. 
"  Come,  my  people." 

And,  taking  her  by  the  hand,  he  led  her  tenderly 
away,  followed  by  all  those  about  him. 

The  darkness  had  fallen.  The  caravan  was  already 
on  its  way,  when  the  slight  figure  of  a  boy  stole  softly 
by  the  well  of  Naomi,  taking  the  direction  of  the  cara- 
7  97 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

van.     The  boy  paused  for  a  moment  beside  the  well 
and  looked  up  at  the  stars. 

"  Give  me  strength,  O  God !"  he  whispered,  in  a 
prayer.  "  Give  me  strength  for  my  task !  For  where 
my  love  goeth  there  will  I  follow,  even  though  he 
leadeth  me  into  the  valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death !" 

Then  he  grasped  his  staff  and  set  bravely  forth  into 
the  night. 

Lemuel,  in  the  caravan,  was  heavy-hearted. 

He  knew  not  that  Elna,  casting  aside  all  maidenly 
fear  with  the  robe  of  a  maiden,  stole  through  the 
darkness,  led  by  her  love.  Babylon,  that  great  and 
mighty  city,  called  her  too,  because  it  called  him. 
Babylon  stretched  forth  her  arms  and  shone  with  all 
her  torches,  and  murmured  with  all  her  voices.  So,  in 
a  by-gone  year,  had  Babylon  called  unto  another  Israel- 
itish  maiden,  even  unto  Elcia.  She  too  had  forsaken 
the  tents  of  her  people,  and  had  heard  the  singing 
voices  die  in  her  ear  as  she  fled  away  to  the  city  of 
glory  and  of  terror.  And  she  too — but  how  differ- 
ently ! — had  become  a  pilgrim  through  darkness  and 
strange  dangers,  driven  by  the  prompting  of  what  she 
thought  was  love. 

Elna  would  not  fear  the  lights,  the  voices,  the  un- 
known people,  or  the  unknown  gods  they  worshipped. 
She  was  strong  with  love,  the  boy  Elna. 

And  so  the  caravan  journeyed,  and  far  off  in  Baby- 
lon, Ishtar — who  once  was  Elcia — slept  in  her  palace 
upon  the  banks  of  Euphrates. 

And  the  slaves  lay  about  her  feet,  holding  their 
instruments  of  music. 

98 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

She  slept,  in  the  soft  and  sweet  night — and  dreamed. 

And  in  the  dream,  her  soul,  released  by  slumber  from 
the  worldly  bonds  that  held  it  fast  by  day,  was  again 
beside  the  well  of  Naomi.  It  stood  with  the  soul  of 
Elna  beneath  the  stars,  as  if  the  soul  that  waked  and 
the  soul  that  slept  met  and  mingled,  as  do  the  souls, 
most  surely — here  or  elsewhere — of  all  loving  women. 

They  touched  hands  and  lips.  Eyes  looked  into 
eyes.  Heart  joined  heart  in  the  mystery  that  is  the 
mystery  of  longing  and  the  mystery  of  pain.  It  was 
but  for  a  moment — prophetic  and  quickly  gone.  Then 
Ishtar  stirred  from  her  sleep  upon  her  couch  of  gold. 

She  raised  herself  up,  thinking  to  see  the  long  reeds 
rustle  beside  Naomi's  well,  the  shadowy  tents  upon  the 
dim  and  endless  plain. 

But,  instead,  she  saw  the  gleaming  of  the  river  and 
the  golden  lights  of  Babylon.  Then  the  tears  fell  from 
her  eyes,  and  she  cried  aloud  to  her  slaves — 

"  Sing  to  me.     Sing  softly.     I  would  sleep  again." 

And  as  their  soft  and  sad  voices  rose  in  the  night 
she  saw  the  shadowy  figure  of  a  slim  boy,  with  a 
maiden's  eyes,  bend  above  her  where  she  lay. 

She  stretched  forth  her  arms.  But  there  was 
nothing. 

And  the  slaves  sang  on,  and  played  upon  their 
instruments,  until  Ishtar  dreamed  again. 


99 


CHAPTEK    VI 

WHEN  Elcia  was  deserted  by  Jediah  in  Babylon,  her 
great  beauty  became  both  her  great  danger  and  her 
worldly  salvation.  Had  she  been  stronger  in  character 
than  she  was,  she  might  have  perished  honourably  of 
starvation,  being  left  in  poverty  and  utterly  without 
friends  in  the  great  city  of  the  strangers.  Being  at 
that  time  weak,  and  ignorant  of  the  ways  of  a  com- 
plicated and  glittering  life,  she  fell  into  the  hands  of 
Migdapul,  the  god-seller,  and  within  four  years  became 
the  famous  Ishtar,  the  Queen  of  Beauty,  at  whose  feet 
sat  the  Babylonian  lords,  the  wealthy  merchants  and 
traders,  and  the  effeminate  dandies  of  the  city.  Her 
lovers  and  her  friends  knew  not  her  history,  whence 
she  came  or  who  she  was.  They  scarcely  cared  to 
know.  The  power  of  her  loveliness  silenced  all  tongues. 
Men  were  content  to  look  upon  her  and  to  worship. 
Some  strove  to  look  beyond  her  wonderful  eyes,  down 
into  her  heart.  These  strove  in  vain.  Every  woman 
is  an  enigma.  Ishtar  was  more  enigmatic  than  her 
sisters,  and  so  more  strangely  attractive  unto  men, 
who  love  ever  to  beat  out  their  hearts  against  that 
which  they  can  never  understand.  If  she  had  a  heart, 
she  allowed  no  one  to  hear  its  pulsation.  She  per- 
mitted no  one  to  dwell  within  it.  For  her  worship- 
pers she  had  caprices,  but  no  adoration.  They  said, 
at  last,  that  she  was  without  a  heart,  and  this  legend 

100 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

drew  men  to  her.  Each  one,  perhaps,  hoped  to  create 
in  her  what  she  lacked.  Each  desired  to  win  the 
favour  denied  to  all  his  rivals.  All  failed.  Ishtar 
remained  mysteriously  cold.  And  yet  her  face  was 
passionate.  Her  eyes  were  full  of  sombre  meaning. 
It  seemed  as  if  she  must  have  felt  and  suffered  once, 
perhaps  very  long  ago,  ere  ever  she  ruled  in  Babylon. 
There  was  even  about  her  a  terror,  as  of  night  and  of 
dead  days.  Her  long  black  hair,  in  which  the  jewels 
shone,  was  like  a  cloud  about  her.  Her  cheeks  were 
pale,  like  smooth  ivory.  And  there  was  often  a  deli- 
cate weariness  in  her  poses,  and  in  her  movements  the 
subtlety  of  an  eternal  languor.  She  spent  long  hours 
reclining  on  the  silken  cushions  of  a  golden  couch 
beneath  the  trees  of  her  palace  garden  which  over- 
looked the  great  river  and  the  terraces  of  the  city. 
And  in  those  hours  she  seemed  to  dream,  although  her 
eyes  were  seldom  closed  in  sleep.  All  the  cries  of  the 
town,  softened  by  distance  into  fairy  voices  came  up  to 
her,  and  the  sounds  of  distant  music  and  the  songs  of 
the  sailors  of  all  lands  upon  the  flowing  river.  She 
heard  the  far-off  beating  of  drums  as  the  religious 
processions  went  by  to  the  temples  of  the  strange 
gods,  the  clash  of  cymbals,  the  thin  flutter  of  flutes. 
She  heard  the  cool  wind  of  night  rustling  in  the  palm- 
trees  above  her  head.  And  sometimes  all  these  noises, 
mingling  together  curiously,  died  down  and  away,  and 
there  seemed  to  come  over  the  city  a  mysterious  hush. 
Then,  in  the  silence,  as  she  gazed  upward  at  the  blue 
sky,  she  heard  the  bleating  of  sheep  and  the  chatter 
of  women  about  a  well.  She  closed  her  eyes  and  saw 

IOI 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

tents  and  long  green  pastures  and  everlasting  plains. 
And  in  her  ears  there  was  the  whisper  of  a  shepherd's 
pipe  and  the  trickle  of  a  melancholy  tune.  Then  her 
eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  she  turned  to  her  slaves  and 
cried — 

"Play  to  me! — play!  Sing  me  the  songs,  the  love- 
songs  of  Babylon  !  Music !  Music !" 

And  she  stretched  out  her  lovely  arms  like  one  that 
is  sick  and  desires  comfort,  but  ever  finds  it  not.  The 
slaves  obeyed  her  command.  They  fluted  and  plucked 
the  strings  of  their  lutes,  and  they  lifted  up  their  soft 
voices  in  singing.  Then  Ishtar  heard  no  more  the 
bleating  of  the  flocks  and  the  pipe  of  the  shepherd. 
And  the  tears  fled  from  her  eyes,  and  she  said  to  her- 
self— 

"  I  will  be  happy  !  For  am  I  not  a  queen  in  Baby- 
lon ?" 

And  she  summoned  her  lovers,  and  she  feasted,  and 
called  the  dancing-girls  and  the  sorcerers  and  the  divi- 
ners. And  there  was  revelry  in  the  palace  by  the 
river.  And  all  the  people  of  Babylon  spoke  of  the 
glory  of  Ishtar. 

Migdapul,  the  god-seller,  who  combined  many  pro- 
fessions and  knew  many  men  and  women  of  curious 
occupation  in  Babylon,  was  become  a  sort  of  paid  ser- 
vant of  Ishtar.  He  was  often  at  her  palace,  and  he 
received  many  commands  in  secret  from  her  and  min- 
istered to  the  pleasures  with  which  she  filled  her  life. 
The  woman  whose  heart  is  sad  often  seeks  to  drown 
her  sorrow  in  imperious  caprices.  So  it  was  with 
Ishtar.  Since  no  man  really  moved  her,  she  was  ever 

IO2 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

searching  for  some  new  lover,  hoping  to  find  in  him 
that  which  was  lacking  in  all  the  others.  Migdapu!, 
who  learned  what  strangers  entered  Babylon,  sought 
out  those  whom  he  thought  might  please  Ishtar,  and 
led  them  to  the  palace  on  the  river  bank.  And  so  it 
came  to  pass  that  he,  ever  on  the  watch,  took  note  of 
the  arrival  of  Lemuel  in  the  caravan  of  the  Lord 
Alorus.  Now,  Lemuel,  simple  shepherd  though  he 
was,  had  more  of  manly  beauty  than  falls  to  the  lot  of 
most  men.  He  was  untainted  by  city  pleasures,  un- 
tired  by  the  dissipations  that  sapped  the  strength  and 
tarnished  the  faces  of  the  Babylonians.  His  bearing 
was  noble.  His  eyes  were  clear  and  his  cheeks  glowed 
with  the  brilliant  colouring  of  health.  When  Migda- 
pul  saw  Lemuel  he  thought,  "  Surely  this  man  would 
please  the  Lady  Ishtar,"  and  presently  he  sought  an 
interview  with  her,  to  tell  her  of  the  arrival  in  Baby- 
lon of  the  beautiful  shepherd. 

Ishtar's  palace,  which  stood  on  one  of  the  artificial 
hills  of  Babylon,  was  built  of  enamelled  bricks,  rosy  in 
hue  and  covered  with  a  shining  glaze  that  made  them 
look  almost  like  jewels.  It  was  set  upon  a  great  plat- 
form of  brickwork  and  was  of  vast  extent,  containing 
mighty  halls  and  chambers  crammed  with  exquisite 
furniture,  with  carved  figures  of  black  basalt,  with 
architectural  ornaments, with  bronzes,  inscriptions,  silks, 
embroideries,  and  vessels  of  chased  gold  and  silver,  in 
many  cases  set  with  gigantic  barbaric  gems.  The 
gardens  were  extraordinary,  even  for  Babylon,  the  city 
of  gardens.  One  of  them,  in  which  Ishtar  generally 
reclined  when  she  desired  to  hear  music  or  to  see  the 

103 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

dancing-girls  leap  and  posture,  was  square  in  form, 
nearly  four  hundred  feet  each  way,  and  rested  upon 
tiers  of  arches,  and  on  walls  of  colossal  thickness. 
Trees  and  shrubs  flourished  here  abundantly,  growing 
to  a  great  size,  and  affording  a  delicious  shade  from  the 
heat  of  the  sun,  even  at  high  noontide.  Innumerable 
fountains  cast  their  silver  spray  towards  heaven,  and 
long  beds  of  flowers  made  patches  of  gorgeous  colour. 
There  was  also  an  artificial  reservoir,  along  whose 
banks  grew  aquatic  plants  and  in  whose  depths  fish 
floated  to  and  fro  like  restless  shadows.  Set  about 
this  garden  were  couches  and  tables,  made  of  carved 
wood  and  of  precious  metals,  and  great  piles  of  em- 
broidered silken  cushions,  on  which  the  guests  of  Ishtar 
lay,  eating  sweetmeats  from  silver  caskets,  listening  to 
the  sound  of  citherns  and  breathing  the  perfumes  and 
spices  that  smoked  in  vases  of  beaten  bronze. 

It  was  into  this  garden  that  Migdapul,  the  god-seller, 
was  introduced  by  a  black  slave  when  he  came  to  tell 
Ishtar  of  the  arrival  of  the  beautiful  shepherd,  Lemuel, 
in  Babylon.  The  air  was  warm,  for  it  was  noon,  and 
Ishtar  lay  upon  a  couch,  fanned  by  two  slaves  who  sat 
at  her  feet,  waving  slowly  to  and  fro  the  feathers  of 
huge  birds  set  in  staffs  of  gold.  In  sheer  weariness 
of  spirit  she  had  dismissed  her  lovers,  and  when  Mig- 
dapul entered,  inclining  himself  obsequiously  almost  to 
the  ground,  she  was  alone,  but  for  her  attendants. 

"Hail,  beautiful  Lady  Ishtar!"  said  the  god-seller, 
standing  at  a  little  distance  from  her  couch.  "  Hail !" 

And  he  bowed  again  with  exaggerated  servility. 
Ishtar  scarcely  turned  her  head  towards  him.  She 

104 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

looked  weary,  and  her  great  eyes  were  cloudy  with 
discontent. 

"  Why  art  thou  here  ?"  she  murmured  indifferently. 
"  On  what  foolish  errand  comest  thou  ?" 

"  On  an  errand  for  thy  pleasure,  lady." 

"My  pleasure?"  Ishtar  reiterated,  with  a  sigh  of 
complete  lassitude.  "And  how  canst  thou  give  pleas- 
ure to  me?" 

"  Am  I  not  ever  zealous  for  thy  delight?" 

"  It  is  seldom  that  thou  delightest  me.  But  tell  me 
thy  errand  and  be  gone.  I  am  not  well  to-day,  and 
would  be  alone." 

She  leaned  lower  on  the  couch,  stretching  her  deli- 
cate limbs  and  playing  idly  with  the  jewelled  bracelets 
that  covered  her  white  arms.  The  slaves,  with  im- 
passive faces,  totally  devoid  of  expression,  continued 
to  fan  her  with  the  regularity  of  machines. 

"  There  is  a  stranger  come  to  Babylon,  lady,"  began 
Migdapul. 

"  That  happens  every  day." 

"  He  arrived  in  the  train  of  the  Lord  Alorus.  He  is 
young  and  well  favoured." 

"  What  of  it  ?    What  is  that  to  me  ?" 

"Thou  hast  seen  many  men  in  Babylon,  lady,  but 
none  like  unto  him.  For  he  is  stronger  than  the 
strongest,  and  hath  an  air  more  brave  than  all  the  sol- 
diers of  the  city.  By  the  great  god  Bel,  he  is  beautiful." 

Ishtar  closed  her  eyes.  She  had  no  air  of  listening 
to  the  god-seller. 

He  came  close  to  her  couch,  and  bending  lower  to 
her  ear,  he  said — 

105 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  He  is  a  youthful  shepherd  come  in  from  the  plains 
and  from  the  tents  of  captive  Israel." 

Ishtar  started  slightly  and  opened  her  eyes. 

"  What  is  his  name  ?"  she  asked. 

"  Lemuel,  lady." 

Ishtar  raised  herself  on  one  arm.  The  weariness 
had  gone  from  her  face,  and  a  faint  eagerness  nickered 
in  her  deep  eyes. 

"  Lemuel !"  she  repeated.  "  It  is  a  name  of  Israel, 
truly.  Thou  sayest  this  shepherd  is  well-favoured  ?" 

"  By  the  great  god  Merodach,  he " 

"Why  hath  he  left  his  flocks  to  come  up  unto 
Babylon  ?" 

"  That  I  know  not,  lady.  Perchance  he  is  tired  of 
the  simple  life  of  the  plains.  In  sooth  I  should  love  it 
not  for  my  part." 

"Thou!  Thou  art  of  Babylon.  Thou  knowest 
naught  else." 

"  There  is  much  to  know  in  Babylon,  lady." 

"Too  much — too  much,"  murmured  Ishtar,  with  a 
bitter  contempt. 

"  Or,  perchance,  the  Lord  Alorus  took  the  shepherd 
to  be  one  of  his  servitors." 

Ishtar  was  silent  for  a  moment.  She  seemed  to  be 
lost  in  thought.  At  length  she  said — 

"  Go  to  the  Lord  Alorus.  Tell  him  I  make  a  feast 
to-night,  and  bid  him  to  come  and  to  bring  his  shep- 
herd with  him.  Dost  thou  understand  ?" 

"  Yes,  lady." 

Ishtar's  lips  curved  in  a  smile  that  was  not  without 
cruelty.  She  struck  a  silver  gong  that  stood  upon  a 

1 06 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

table  by  her  side.  A  eunuch,  richly  dressed  in  a  silk 
robe  covered  with  jewelled  embroideiy,  appeared. 

"  I  shall  make  a  feast  to-night,"  she  said  "  Com- 
mand the  musicians,  the  diviners,  the  Indian  dancers." 

The  eunuch  made  an  obeisance  and  withdrew.  Then 
Ishtar  turned  again  to  Migdapul. 

"  We  will  show  thy  simple  shepherd  the  glories  of 
Babylon  to-night,"  she  said.  And  her  eyes  glittered 
almost  fiercely.  "  He  is  come  hither  from  the  country 
plains  and  from  hearing  the  voice  of  the  flocks  and  the 
herds.  To-night  he  shall  hear  my  voice  and  the  voices 
of  the  singers.  He  shall  look  upon  the  dancers  dancing 
to  the  citherns.  And  his  comely  simplicity  shall  be 
enlightened  Poor  Israelite !" 

She  laughed  aloud. 

"  Go,  Migdapul,"  she  added.  "  Bear  my  message. 
And — stay — here  is  something  for  thee." 

She  took  a  ring  from  her  finger  and  put  it  into  his 
hand.  He  burst  forth  into  a  torrent  of  thanks. 

"  Go,"  she  said.     "  Go— I  am  sick  of  thy  babble." 

And  she  turned  her  face  from  him  and  lay  back  as 
one  who  would  sleep. 

But  when  he  was  gone  she  did  not  sleep.  She  called 
her  attendants  and  gave  orders  for  a  great  feast.  And 
when  the  evening  came,  she  bade  her  slaves  attire  her 
in  magnificent  robes  and  bring  forth  the  finest  of  her 
jewels  to  deck  her  hair  and  her  bosom. 

The  night  fell,  and  the  sky  was  thick  with  stars 
above  the  great  palace  of  Ishtar.  She  came  forth  into 
the  garden  above  the  arches  to  await  her  guests.  She 
was  clad  in  a  sindone,  a  long  garment  of  extremely 

107 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

fine  muslin,  of  a  deep  red  hue,  with  a  delicate  pattern 
of  gold  birds  and  a  deep  fringe  of  gold  that  fell  about 
her  feet.  In  her  black  hair,  on  her  neck  and  arms, 
gleamed  enormous  red  jewels  set  in  heavy  gold,  and  in 
her  hand  she  carried  a  gigantic  fan  of  red  feathers 
that  sprang  from  sticks  of  gold.  Her  face  was  pale 
as  ivory,  and  her  dark  eyes  shone  with  an  unwonted 
eagerness. 

In  the  garden  the  Persian  and  Nubian  slaves  had 
arranged  many  couches  and  divans  of  ebony,  ivory, 
cedar  wood,  and  other  precious  materials,  on  which 
lay  piles  of  white,  blue,  and  scarlet  silken  cushions, 
elaborately  embroidered  with  curious  patterns  and  with 
figures  of  mythical  beasts  and  with  birds.  Torches, 
flaming  in  bronze  stands,  flared  forth  upon  the  night, 
mingling  their  fierce  lustre  with  the  pale  light  of  the 
rising  moon.  Upon  the  ground  were  spread  rich  car- 
pets— those  marvellous  carpets  for  which  Babylon  was 
so  famous.  They  were  made  of  the  finest  wool,  ex- 
quisitely woven,  amazingly  brilliant  in  colour,  and 
covered  with  complicated  and  sometimes  humorous 
patterns,  representing  griffins  and  strange  beasts  of 
Lower  Asia.  The  air  was  heavy  with  the  perfume  of 
flowers  and  of  frankincense  which  smoked  in  vases  of 
chased  silver.  The  moonbeams  glittered  on  the  arti- 
ficial water,  and  beyond  the  alabaster  terrace  wall  could 
be  seen  a  superb  panorama  of  Babylon,  gleaming  with 
myriads  of  lights  like  a  fairy  city  in  a  wonderful  dream. 

Ishtar  approached  this  wall,  and,  leaning  upon  the 
balustrade,  looked  out  over  the  city.  The  romance  of 
it  touched  her  far  less  than  the  wickedness  of  it.  For 

1 08 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

she  had  learned  to  know  it  too  well  to  think  of  it  as 
a  fairy  wonder,  as  an  enchanted  abode  of  light  and 
colour  and  artistry  and  pleasure.  The  glory  of  it 
rose  up  to  her  in  the  night  like  flame  and  smoke  from 
the  pit.  The  cries  of  it  sounded  in  her  ears  like  the 
cries  of  demons.  And  its  music  was  melancholy  and 
foreboding.  The  long  lines  of  lights,  stretching  far 
out  on  every  side  into  the  shadowy  darkness  of  the 
immense  plain,  were  like  terrible  eyes  of  the  wild  and 
devouring  beasts  that  haunt  the  waste  places  of  the 
desert.  And  the  wind  that  blew  softly  above  the  walls 
of  the  palaces  and  temples  seemed  to  her  cold  with 
the  breath  of  some  coming  unknown  fate.  Sometimes 
she  wondered  why  Babylon  was  so  terrible  to  her,  why 
she  could  not  be  happy.  She  was  rich.  She  was  wor- 
shipped. Her  name  was  great  throughout  the  city. 
Luxury  surrounded  her.  All  the  hard  things  of  life 
were  smoothed  away  before  her  pretty  feet.  All  the 
pleasures  of  the  world  trooped  around  her  in  smiling 
squadrons  Her  lovers  gave  her  passion;  her  slaves, 
faithful  servitude;  her  musicians,  exquisite  melodies; 
her  dancers,  sinuous  grace  and  the  songs  of  gestures. 
For  her  the  diviners  ruled  the  stars.  For  her  prayers 
were  murmured  in  the  temples  of  the  gods.  For  her 
men  had  suffered  and  had  died.  She  had  her  sacrifices 
like  Merodach  and  like  Anu,  the  god  of  heaven.  She 
was  more  than  a  name  to  the  Babylonians.  She  was 
a  superstition,  and  on  the  "  day  of  rest  for  the  heart," 
the  Sabbath  of  the  city,  there  were  those  who  wor- 
shipped her  as  they  never  worshipped  the  images  that 
ruled  in  silence,  motionless  above  the  shrines  where 

109 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

superstition  fell  to  plead  for  worldly  joys  and  ever- 
lasting rewards  hereafter. 

And  yet  Ishtar's  heart  was  desolate  and  full  of  those 
mysterious  and  pathetic  echoes  which  dwell  in  solitary 
places,  and  Ishtar's  soul  was  bitter  with  an  exceeding 
great  bitterness.  Only  sometimes,  in  wild  dissipation, 
in  the  abandonments  of  passion,  could  she  lose  for  a 
while  her  sense  of  despair,  the  cruel  sensation  of  love- 
lessness  that  filled  her  world  with  blackness  even  when 
her  lovers  lay  at  her  feet  upon  the  silken  cushions,  and 
the  wine-cup  passed  from  hand  to  hand. 

To-night,  even,  as  she  leaned  out  from  her  hanging 
garden,  her  soul  was  heavy  within  her  like  a  thing  of 
lead.  Her  momentary  excitement  had  died  away,  and 
tears  rose  in  her  eyes  as  she  gazed  at  the  lights  of  the 
city,  till  they  swam  in  a  blurred  mist  and  wavered  and 
faded.  And  she  drooped  her  dark  head  upon  her  arms, 
and  longed  for  peace  and  rest. 

That  dwelt  far  oif,  in  the  green  plains,  among  the 
flocks  and  the  herds,  not  here  under  the  palms  and 
cypress-trees  in  which  torches  were  fastened  till  they 
sparkled  with  shaded  fire.  Then  Ishtar,  with  one  of 
those  great  gestures  that  come  from  the  soul,  stretched 
forth  her  arms  above  the  city,  as  if  she  called  silently 
to  the  distant  silence  of  the  plain.  The  huge  red 
jewels  shone  fiercely  in  the  torchlight  and  the  moon- 
light. The  golden  bracelets  gleamed.  The  long  red 
robe,  with  its  golden  birds  hiding  their  quaint  and 
demure  heads  in  the  rich  dimness  of  the  folds,  flowed 
out  in  the  soft  night-wind,  and  the  hanging  sleeves  of 
embroidery  fell  backward  from,  the  white  arms.  She 

HO 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

stood  there  almost  like  some  majestic  and  inhuman 
thing,  and  from  the  depths  of  her  heart  arose  a  great 
and  voiceless  cry :  "  Take  me  away — away — to  the 
spaces  of  the  stars,  to  the  silver  shadows  of  the  moon, 
to  the  ebony  solitudes  of  the  night — where  no  men  are 
— no  voices — no  hands  to  touch  me — no  lips  to  lie  on 
mine !  Take  me  away — away !" 

She  felt  something  that  pushed  against  her  robe, 
and  she  dropped  her  arms  with  a  sigh,  and  turned 
from  the  terrace.  One  of  her  dogs,  a  Persian  grey- 
hound, was  trying  to  attract  her  attention.  She  bent 
down  and  kissed  its  narrow  head,  laid  her  hand  on  the 
silver  collar  that  circled  its  neck,  and  led  it  with  her  to 
a  couch,  on  which  she  sank,  keeping  the  dog  at  her  side. 

"  Let  the  instruments  of  music  play,"  she  said  to  a 
slave.  "  Scatter  red  flowers  upon  the  carpets.  It  is 
the  hour  for  the  feast." 

The  slave  girls  plucked  their  citherns.  The  flutes 
rose  coolly  from  the  shadows  of  the  cypresses,  and  the 
psalteries  quivered  to  her  ears  as  a  rosy  cloud  of 
scented  flowers  fell  around  her.  Then  from  the  court 
of  her  palace,  conducted  by  slaves,  came  the  favoured 
Babylonians  who  were  her  guests  of  the  night.  And, 
as  they  entered,  from  an  open  chamber  of  the  palace 
rose  the  voice  of  girls  singing — 

"  Softly  glides  the  moon  along  heaven's  way. 
She  draws  her  veil  of  cloud  across  her  face, 
She  doth  not  wish  to  pry  where  love  doth  wait. 
Be  thou  as  kind  as  she,  and  close  the  gate." 

A  trumpet  sounded  loudly.  Then  the  voices  rose  more 
softly — 

III 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Yes,  close  the  gate. 
Draw  the  curtains  close 
And  close  the  gate. 
Let  love  commune  with  love  alone, 
And  close  the  gate. 
Let  no  eyes  see — let  no  ears  hear ; 
Guard  well  the  gate." 

The  voices  and  the  instruments  faded  away,  as  if  the 
singers  and  the  players  withdrew  themselves  to  the 
inner  courts  of  the  palace.  And  as  the  last  faint  note 
sank  into  silence,  Alorus  entered  the  garden,  sur- 
rounded by  several  magnificently  attired  Babylonian 
nobles  and  attendants,  among  whom  was  Lemuel. 

Alorus,  whose  arms  were  covered  with  jewels,  and 
whose  thick  black  hair,  which  curled  naturally,  was 
elaborately  knotted  and  decked  with  golden  ornaments, 
advanced  towards  Ishtar  with  a  jaunty  and  dandified 
gait,  and  bent  low  before  her. 

"  Queen  of  the  night,"  he  said,  "  more  lovely  art  thou 
than  the  silver  moon,  or  than  any  star.  I,  like  all  men, 
am  thy  slave,  and  am  here  at  thy  gracious  bidding." 

Ishtar  extended  her  hand  to  his  lips,  but  her  eyes 
were  turned  upon  the  throng  of  his  attendants.  She 
bowed  to  several  of  them,  then,  turning  to  Alorus,  who 
remained  beside  her  in  an  attitude  of  ostentatious  sub- 
mission, she  said — 

"And  thy  new  attendant,  the  shepherd  Lemuel?" 

"  Thou  would'st  speak  with  him,  fairest  lady  ?" 

Ishtar  bent  her  head. 

"Lemuel,"  said  Alorus,  "the  Lady  Ishtar  would 
speak  with  thee.  Come  hither." 

112 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

Lemuel,  who  had  been  standing  quietly  behind  the 
gorgeous  Babylonians,  obeyed  the  command  of  Alorus, 
and,  moving  from  his  place,  came  before  the  couch  of 
Ishtar.  Her  greyhound  fawned  upon  him  instantly, 
and  licked  his  hands  with  affection.  Lemuel  was 
simply  attired  in  a  white  tunic  that  fell  only  to  his 
knees,  and  was  confined  at  the  waist  by  a  broad  girdle 
of  dyed  wool.  His  arms  were  bare,  and  on  his  feet  he 
wore  sandals.  His  brown  hair,  which  was  not  elabo- 
rately plaited  as  was  the  hair  of  the  Babylonians, 
clustered  in  curls  about  his  broad  and  noble  forehead, 
and  his  frank  brown  eyes  looked,  unabashed,  into  the 
great  eyes  of  Ishtar.  His  whole  person  breathed  a 
quiet  dignity,  mingled  with  a  manly  simplicity  that 
seemed  born  of  the  very  essence  of  fearlessness,  and 
the  obeisance  that  he  made  seemed  rather  the  inclina- 
tion of  strength  before  beauty  than  of  a  slave  before  a 
queen  of  Babylon.  Ishtar  looked  up  at  him,  and  a 
strange  interest  quickened  in  her  eyes. 

For  when  she  saw,  set  in  the  midst  of  the  coarse 
and  laughing  Babylonians,  this  noble  and  sincere  shep- 
herd, fearless,  godly,  and  strong  with  a  strength  un- 
sapped  by  deeds  of  evil,  her  heart  went  back  to  the 
days  when  she  was  happy  and  sinless,  when  she  sat  in 
the  tent-door  and  looked  out  upon  the  plain,  shading 
her  eyes  to  catch  the  first  glimpse  of  her  husband, 
Johanan,  as  he  returned,  singing,  from  his  labours  in 
the  fields.  How  long  ago  that  seemed!  And  o'er 
what  a  deep  gulf  did  she  gaze  upon  her  lovely  life  of 
innocence ! 

"  Thou  art  new  in  Babylon  ?"  she  asked  Lemuel. 

8 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

And  there  was  a  quiver  of  strange  emotion  in  her 
voice. 

"  Yes,  lady." 

"  What  of  the  city  thinkest  thou  ?" 

"  I  know  not  yet,  lady.  Babylon  is  not  learnt  in  a 
day.  It  hath  surely  many  secrets." 

As  he  spoke  his  eyes  looked  piercingly  into  hers,  and 
she  felt  herself  tremble.  She  cast  down  her  eyes  and 
said,  with  a  forced  laugh,  to  Alorus — 

"  Thou  hearest  what  saith  the  stranger,  Alorus  ?" 

"  Ay,  and  it  is  true.  But  what  is  a  city  without  its 
secrets  ?  Tame  as  would  be  a  woman  without  hers,  at 
which  no  mere  man  can  even  guess.  Is  it  not  so,  Me- 
nanahim  ?" 

"  It  is  even  so,"  said  Menanahim,  looking  contemptu- 
ously at  Lemuel.  "Methinks  our  simple  shepherd 
here  would  be  surprised  indeed  could  his  wit  of  the 
plains  understand  the  marvels  and  the  mysteries  of 
Babylon." 

"  Perhaps  even  his  wit  can  understand  the  mystery 
of  beauty  that  is  like  unto  the  sun  in  his  glory,"  said 
Lemuel  calmly. 

And  again  he  looked  into  the  eyes  of  Ishtar.  She 
smiled  at  him  and  answered — 

"  And  darest  thou  fix  thine  eyes  upon  the  sun  ? 
Fearest  thou  not  blindness  ?" 

As  she  spoke  she  rose  up  and  stood  before  him  in 
the  light  of  the  torches.  Beneath  her  robe  the  volup- 
tuous beauty  of  the  curves  of  her  exquisite  limbs 
could  be  seen,  half  concealed,  half  revealed  by  the 
cunning  arrangement  and  disposal  of  her  falling  dra- 

114 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

peries.  A  sort  of  insolence  crept  into  her  face,  as  if 
she  felt  the  splendour  of  her  own  power,  the  glory  of 
the  spell  of  face  and  form  before  which  all  men  made 
obeisance. 

She  lifted  her  hand  to  her  veil  of  spangled  golden 
tissue  and  seemed  as  if  she  would  draw  it  before  her 
face  as  she  added — 

"Shall  the  sun  draw  its  veil  of  clouds  across  its 
face?" 

"  Nay,"  answered  Lemuel ;  "  let  not  all  the  land  be 
dark.  Spare  us  the  light  and  we  will  veil  our  eyes. 
Without  the  sun  we  perish." 

"  Ah  !"  said  Menanahim,  with  a  sneer,  "  there  spoke 
the  husbandman,  brooding  o'er  his  harvest.  Our  good 
friend  Lemuel,  as  a  born  tiller  of  the  land,  is  full  of  the 
sun  and  rain ;  without  them  must  he  indeed  perish." 

"  So  must  thou,  oh  lord  of  Babylon,"retorted  Lemuel. 
"  Lacking  Israel's  flocks  and  harvest,  even  so  fine  a 
lord  as  Menanahim  might,  like  unto  a  whining  beggar 
of  the  streets,  go  clamouring  for  bread." 

"  Not  at  the  heels  of  an  upstart  Israelite,"  said  Me- 
nanahim fiercely. 

"  Take  heed,  oh  lord,  lest  thou  find  thyself  not  at,  but 
under,  the  heels  of  some  upstart  Israelite,"  returned 
Lemuel. 

"  Barest  thou  ?"  began  Menanahim  furiously,  as  he 
thrust  his  hand  into  his  girdle  and  drew  forth  a  jewelled 
knife. 

But  Ishtar  touched  his  arm  with  a  queenly  gesture 
of  command,  and  said — 

"Enough,  Menanahim!     The  retort  was  fair.    Let 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

be,  I  say.     Even  as  the  shepherd's  wits  are  keener 
than  thine,  so  may  his  steel  be.     Nay,  I  said  '  enough' !" 

As  she  spoke  the  last  words  she  stood  up  between 
the  two  men,  drawing  herself  to  her  full  height.  Me- 
nanahim,  scowling  with  anger,  slowly  returned  the 
knife  to  its  place,  muttering  to  himself — 

"  Another  time — another  time,  shepherd !" 

Alorus  and  the  Babylonians  who  stood  around  burst 
into  laughter,  and  began  to  overwhelm  Menanahim 
with  mock  felicitations.  But  Lemuel,  who  seemed 
totally  unmoved,  stood  calmly  in  his  place  without  a 
word.  Only  the  muscles  that  started  under  the  smooth 
skin  of  his  arms  betrayed  his  readiness  for  combat  and 
the  excitement  that  stirred  within  him.  Ishtar  looked 
at  him  with  growing  admiration,  which  she  scarcely 
strove  to  conceal.  For  the  libertine  life  of  Babylon 
had  stripped  from  her  much  of  woman's  beautiful  and 
precious  reserve.  Then,  seeing  by  the  fury  of  Menan- 
ahim's  countenance  that  the  banter  of  his  companions 
was  likely  to  drive  away  his  last  remnant  of  self-con- 
trol, she  said,  raising  her  voice — 

"And  now,  my  lords,  I  beseech  you  stand  no  longer 
as  if  you  were  about  to  leave  me.  Let  us  sit  and  see 
the  dancing  of  the  Indian  girls  and  drink  the  wines 
that  are  brought  from  far." 

She  clapped  her  hands  together. 

"  Summon  the  dancers,"  she  cried,  "  and  let  wine  be 
brought.  Lemuel,  hast  thou  ever  seen  the  strange 
dancers  from  India  ?" 

"  Nay,  lady." 

"  Hast  thou  drunk  the  purple  wine  ?" 
116 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Nay,  lady,  but  the  water  from  the  well  of  Naomi 
beside  the  tents  of  my  people." 

Ishtar  started,  and  for  a  moment  her  face  was  con- 
torted as  if  by  pain.  Then,  with  a  curious  sort  of  vio- 
lence, she  cried — 

"Sit  thou  here  at  my  feet  on  this  silken  cushion. 
Thou  shalt  taste  the  wonders  of  Babylon  ere  ever  the 
moon  mounts  higher  in  the  sky  above  the  cypress 
yonder.  Put  thy  lips  to  the  wine-cup  and  drink  to 
the  sun  that  shines  upon  thee!" 

As  she  spoke,  one  of  the  slaves,  kneeling,  handed  her 
a  silver  vessel  in  the  form  of  a  mythical  dragon,  filled 
to  the  mouth  with  wine.  She  touched  her  own  lips 
with  it  and  then  gave  it  to  Lemuel.  He  feigned  to 
drink,  saying — 

"To  the  sun,  Lady  Ishtar!" 

Then,  handing  the  dragon  to  the  Lord  Alorus,  he 
reclined  at  the  feet  of  Ishtar,  who  leaned  towards 
him  from  the  couch  whereon  she  sank,  fanning  his  face 
with  the  great  red  feathers  of  her  fan.  The  Baby- 
lonians disposed  themselves  around  her.  Some  wan- 
dered away  along  the  paths  of  the  garden.  Some 
walked  aside,  speaking  to  the  beautiful  slave  girls. 
Menanahim  leaned  alone  by  a  cypress-tree,  regarding 
Ishtar  and  Lemuel  with  eyes  that  darted  flame.  Alorus 
stood  behind  the  couch  of  Ishtar,  resting  one  hand 
upon  it,  and  now  and  then,  with  an  affected  playful- 
ness, touching  the  red  jewels  that  gleamed  in  the  dark 
tresses  of  her  hair.  There  was  a  moment  of  silent 
expectation,  then  a  strain  of  distant  and  melancholy 
music  stole  through  the  garden,  accompanied  by  the 

117 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

dull  and  reiterated  hum  of  a  shrouded  gong  beaten  far 
off  and  the  soft  clash  of  cymbals.  In  a  dark  court  of 
the  palace,  that  opened  on  the  garden  through  a  yawn- 
ing arch,  coloured  lights  began  to  twinkle.  And  pres- 
ently through  this  archway  floated  a  string  of  Indian 
girls,  bearing  tiny  torches.  Their  thin  robes  of  purple 
muslin,  spangled  with  a  silver  design  of  conventional 
flowers,  scarcely  hid  their  slim  forms.  On  their  up- 
lifted arms  jingled  quantities  of  loose  bracelets  of 
silver,  and  in  their  floating  hair  were  purple  flowers 
and  dark-green  leaves. 

Moving  with  a  slow  and  undulating  gait  they  passed 
by  the  Babylonians,  taking  no  sort  of  heed  of  their 
exclamations  of  admiration,  and  made  their  sinuous 
way  to  a  gorgeous  carpet  that  was  spread  before  the 
couch  of  Ishtar.  Then,  arranging  themselves  in  a  sort 
of  pattern,  they  began  to  dance  one  of  those  curious 
and  almost  terrible  dances  that  seem  to  be  handed  on 
as  a  tradition  from  one  generation  of  women  to  another 
in  the  curious  and  terrible  countries  of  the  East.  In 
the  light  of  the  torches  and  of  the  moon,  to  the  far- 
off  beat  of  the  barbarous  music,  they  leaped  and  ges- 
ticulated, swaying  their  attenuated  bodies,  trembling 
their  white  arms,  on  which  the  silver  bracelets  jangled, 
with  a  cruel  and  clashing  persistence.  The  expressions 
on  their  dark  and  unfathomable  faces  were  intellectual 
and  very  sad,  totally  unself-conscious,  like  expressions 
of  statuettes.  But  their  movements  gradually  became 
more  and  more  vehement,  as  if  their  bodies  were  full 
of  excitement,  while  their  minds  remained  watchful, 
cold,  and  reserved.  They  leaped  high  into  the  air 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

with  an  incomparable  activity  beside  the  silver  foun- 
tains, which  leaped  in  emulation.  Their  long  dark 
eyes  stared  into  the  violet  air  of  the  night,  as  if  they 
looked  at  something  distressing  and  very  far  away. 
They  were  sombre  as  the  black  cypresses  that  cast 
long  shadows  upon  the  garden  walls.  They  were 
cruel  as  fate  is  cruel.  And  the  distant  music  which 
accompanied  them  was  savage  and  sweet  at  the 
same  time,  yearning  and  unkind,  like  many  passionate 
women. 

The  Babylonians  leaned  forward  towards  these 
leaping  figures,  fascinated.  Their  lips  parted  in  their 
beards.  Their  hands  mechanically  beat  time.  Uncon- 
sciously they  swayed  their  bodies  to  the  soft  clash  of 
the  cj^mbals.  They  forgot  to  pass  the  wine-cup.  They 
forgot  to  speak  or  to  laugh.  Mystery  ran  over  them 
like  a  wave.  Even  a  sort  of  fear  overtook  them. 
And  in  the  violet  night  they  lay  upon  their  cushions 
like  engrossed  men  in  a  dream  who  will  never  cease 
from  gazing  at  dancers  who  will  dance  for  ever.  Ish- 
tar  no  longer  moved  to  and  fro  the  golden  sticks  and 
the  huge  red  feathers  of  her  fan.  She,  too,  leaned  a 
little  nearer  to  Lemuel.  Her  eyes  were  fixed  upon  his 
face,  and  an  expression  of  tenderness  had  come  into 
them,  of  tenderness  that  was  full  of  melancholy. 
Beyond  the  terrace  wall  the  multitudinous  lights  of 
Babylon  twinkled  in  the  night.  Lemuel  looked  at  the 
dancers  for  a  while,  but  rather  with  disgust  than  with 
any  other  sensation.  Then  he  turned  his  eyes  to  the 
lights  of  the  city,  and  his  thoughts  passed  beyond 
them  to  the  empty  plain  beyond,  and  travelled,  as  in 


THE    DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

some  spectral  caravan,  to  the  tents  of  his  people  beside 
the  well  of  Naomi,  to  the  tent  of  the  maiden  Elna. 
There  was  his  heart,  so  far  away  from  Babylon  and 
from  the  queen  of  its  beauty,  who  leaned  towards  him, 
striving  to  read  the  meaning  of  his  face.  And  a  great 
sadness  and  oppression  overtook  him,  helped  by  the 
gesticulations  and  mysterious  faces  of  the  dancers,  and 
by  the  romantic  loveliness  of  the  night,  and  by  the 
wandering  tunes  of  the  hidden  instruments  in  the 
blackness  of  the  palace  court.  His  whole  being  cried 
out  to  Elna.  All  this  music  called  to  her.  And  then 
he  thought  of  Jediah,  her  husband,  holding  her  in  un- 
yielding arms,  and  a  black  bitterness  flowed  into  his 
soul. 

"Dost  thou  love  the  wonders  of  Babylon,  shep- 
herd ?"  whispered  the  soft  voice  of  Ishtar  in  his  ear. 
"Dost  thou  love  its  women  and  its  wine-cups,  its 
music  and  its  moon  ?  See  how  she  mounts  above  the 
cypresses  and  the  palms." 

The  moon  was  indeed  now  higher  in  the  heaven,  and 
her  light,  pouring  over  the  garden,  made  the  illumina- 
tion from  the  quivering  torches  seem  dusky  and  horri- 
bly artificial.  All  the  staring  faces  of  the  Babylonians 
were  touched  with  silver  radiance,  and  the  floating 
robes  of  the  dancers  looked  like  the  gossamer  robes  of 
elves. 

Lemuel,  full  of  the  bitterness  of  his  thought,  turned 
to  Ishtar. 

"  Thy  city  is  indeed  beautiful,  lady,"  he  answered. 

"  And  I,  shepherd  ?" 

"  Thou  art  the  most  beautiful  of  its  wonders." 
1 2O 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

Ishtar  smiled. 

"If  indeed  thou  thinkest  so,"  she  said,  lowering 
her  voice  to  a  whisper,  "  why  stay  with  the  Lord 
Alorus  ?" 

Lemuel  looked  at  her  with  a  sort  of  naive  surprise 
that  she  found  enchanting. 

"  Why  not  stay  here  with  me  ?  E'en  now  I  seek  a 
new  attendant.  Wilt  thou  enter  into  my  service  ?  I 
have  my  court,  as  doth  the  King  of  Babylon.  Wilt 
thou  be  among  my  courtiers  and  be  lodged  within  the 
mighty  walls  of  my  palace  ?" 

Lemuel  glanced  around  him,  at  the  Indian  girls  leap- 
ing in  the  moonlight,  at  the  coarse  faces  of  the  watch- 
ing Babylonians,  at  the  slaves  who  reclined  farther 
away  upon  the  terrace.  This  palace,  he  mused,  was  a 
true  centre  of  the  life  of  Babylon.  Hither  came  all 
the  great  men  of  the  city  to  worship  at  the  shrine  of 
beauty;  idlers,  dandies,  politicians,  priests  and  mer- 
chants, actors  and  poets,  the  players  of  music  and  the 
sorcerers  and  diviners.  Nowhere  could  he  spy  out  the 
nakedness  of  Babylon,  learn  its  ways  and  its  secrets, 
its  cruelties  and  its  captives,  more  surely  than  here. 
In  no  other  place,  perchance,  could  he  do  his  people 
greater  service  than  here,  within  the  courts  of  the  most 
famous  woman  of  Babylon.  Kapidly  these  thoughts 
ran  through  his  mind.  He  turned  again  to  Ishtar  and 
he  said — 

"  Lady,  if  my  Lord  Alorus  consenteth,  I  would  stay 
here  with  thee." 

"All  the  world  consents  to  do  my  bidding,"  she 
answered  proudly.  "Alorus!" 

321 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  What  desireth  Ishtar  ?"  asked  Alorus,  withdrawing 
his  eyes  from  the  dancers. 

"  Thy  shepherd  will  stay  here  at  my  side  and  will  be 
among  the  number  of  mine  attendants." 

The  lips  of  Alorus  curled  in  a  smile  that  was  full  of 
meaning. 

"  As  thou  wilt,  lady,"  he  replied. 

Then  he  bent  down  to  her  and  whispered — 

"Is  the  heart  of  Ishtar  caught  by  simplicity?" 

"  Or  by  truth,"  she  answered,  with  an  accent  almost 
of  emotion.  Then  she  burst  into  a  laugh,  and  cried 
aloud — 

"  Enough  of  dancing !  Bring  more  wine.  And  sum- 
mon the  charmers  and  the  diviners.  We  will  speed 
the  night  more  merrily.  Drink,  my  lords,  and  you, 
Menanahim — drink  ye  all  to  simplicity !" 

She  lifted  the  wine-cup,  and,  with  her  eyes  fastened 
on  Lemuel,  she  drained  it  to  the  dregs. 

That  night  Lemuel  lay  in  the  palace  of  Ishtar.  But 
he  dreamed  of  Elna  and  of  the  plains  where  rose  the 
tents  of  his  people. 


122 


CHAPTER  VII 

THREE  days  later,  in  one  of  the  crowded  streets  of 
Babylon,  not  far  from  the  great  temple  of  Bel-Mero- 
dach  and  the  Mound  of  Amram,  Sabaal,  the  Israelitish 
slave  of  the  Lord  Alorus,  stopped  a  water-carrier  who 
was  beating  his  cups  together  to  attract  the  attention 
of  the  passing  multitude,  and,  making  a  peculiar  sign 
to  him  with  the  fingers,  said  to  him  in  a  low  voice — 

"  Israel  in  bondage  !" 

The  man  instantly  gave  a  countersign,  replying — 

"  Israel  free!" 

"  Your  report,  Elkanus,"  whispered  Sabaal. 

"  Ten  of  the  house  of  Josias,  six  of  the  house  of 
Eleasor,  four  of  the  house  of  Joahaz." 

"  'Tis  good.  We  meet  to-night  at  moonrise,  behind 
the  house  of  Maaleh." 

"  So  be  it,"  answered  the  water-carrier,  and,  in  re- 
sponse to  an  imperative  sign  from  Sabaal,  he  was  about 
to  continue  his  occupation,  when  suddenly  he  started 
and  exclaimed — 

"  Look ! — look  yonder !" 

"Guard  thyself!"  responded  Sabaal  angrily.  "Have 
a  care,  lest  we  be  suspected.  What  now  ?" 

"  Yonder !  Yonder !"  said  Elkanus.  "  Jediah,  son  of 
Zoar!" 

"  Jediah  in  Babylon !"  exclaimed  Sabaal  hastily. 
"  What  meaneth  this  ?" 

123 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

And,  gazing  into  the  crowd,  he  saw  Jediah  slowly 
approaching,  accompanied  by  Adoram.  They  were 
engaged  in  earnest  conversation,  and  Jediah  gesticu- 
lated as  he  talked,  in  the  manner  of  a  man  excited  and 
moved  to  anger. 

"  Is  Jediah  with  us  ?"  whispered  the  water-carrier. 

"  No,  against  us,  and  his  coming  hither  bodes  naught 
but  evil.  Go  thy  way.  To-night !" 

"To-night!"  replied  Elkanus.  "Water!  Water! 
Clear  water !  Sweet  water !" 

He  struck  his  cups  together  vigorously,  and  passed 
on  through  the  street. 

Meanwhile,  Sabaal  moved  into  the  shadow  of  a  gigan- 
tic archway  through  which  lay  the  path  to  the  river- 
side, and,  leaning  against  the  wall,  prepared  to  ob- 
serve the  proceedings  of  Jediah.  This  one  came  on 
towards  the  arch.  He  was  closely  muffled  in  a  ber- 
nouse  with  an  enormous  hood,  and  his  manner  was 
cautious  and  watchful. 

"  Look  upon  them  all,"  he  said  to  Adoram  ;  "  let  not 
one  face  escape  thee.  We  shall  find  them.  We  must. 
Seek !  Seek !" 

"These  endless  streets  daze  me,"  replied  Adoram. 
"  And  the  noise  thereof  deafens  me.  Let  us  give  up 
the  search." 

And  he  paused,  as  one  that  is  weary. 

Jediah  turned  upon  him  furiously. 

"  Give  up  the  search !"  he  exclaimed.  "  I  tell  thee 
that  I  will  neither  rest  nor  sleep  till  these  guilty 
ones  be  found  and,  before  all  the  people,  dragged  to 
judgment." 

124 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"To  judgment!"  said  Adoram,  in  horror.  "They 
two !  Elna  and  thine  own  brother !" 

"Brother!  That  bond  is  broken.  Lemuel's  life  is 
forfeit,  and  I  will  exact  the  penalty — yea,  even  to  the 
uttermost." 

"  But  there  may  be  some  error,"  said  Adoram ;  "  she 
may  not  be  with  him." 

Jediah  made  a  gesture  of  contemptuous  impatience. 

"  Seek  Lemuel  and  learn,"  continued  Adoram. 

"Seek  him  in  the  house  of  Ishtar?"  said  Jediah 
suspiciously. 

"Why  not?" 

"  I  know  not,"  answered  Jediah,  dropping  his  head 
on  his  breast,  "  I  know  not.  But  they  say  this  Ishtar 
is  a  dangerous  woman,  and  hath  many  wiles  for  men." 

"  And  thou  dost  fear  to  meet  her  ?"  asked  Adoram, 
staring  into  the  face  of  his  companion. 

"  I  have  not  said  I  fear." 

"Nay,"  said  Adoram,  coming  a  little  closer,  "but 
surely  fear  is  in  thine  eyes." 

"  Thou  liest !"  said  Jediah,  turning  from  him  angrily. 
"  Why  should  I  fear  this  woman  Ishtar?" 

"  I  know  not." 

"  Nor  I,"  murmured  Jediah  to  himself.  "  For  why 
should  Ishtar  be It  is  a  foolish  fancy." 

At  this  moment  there  was  the  beating  of  a  staff  on 
the  stones  near  to  them,  and  a  lamentable  voice  cried 
with  piercing  yet  mechanical  energy — 

"  Help  the  blind !     Help  the  blind !" 

Jediah  started,  as  if  he  had  been  struck  with  a 
thong.  The  cry  recalled  to  him  the  night  in  which, 

125 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

years  ago,  he  lay  in  a  house  of  Babylon  over  against 
the  "House  of  the  Males"  and  listened  in  the  dark 
hours  to  the  beating  of  the  great  bat  about  the  cham- 
ber. He  remembered  how  his  heart  waited  in  terror, 
as  the  dawn  drew  near,  for  a  far-away  step  at  the  end 
of  the  street,  for  the  tapping  of  a  staff  upon  the  stones 
of  the  way.  The  bat,  like  some  spirit  of  evil,  uttered 
its  thin  and  sinister  note.  A  pale  light  grew  at  the 
window.  He  saw  the  wings  of  the  creature,  its  gro- 
tesque shadow  flying  along  the  walls.  The  sweat  burst 
forth  upon  his  forehead  now,  for  it  seemed  to  him  that 
he  was  back  in  the  past,  that  he  heard  the  beating  of 
a  staff  upon  his  door,  and  that  this  lamentable  cry 
came  from  a  voice  that  he  knew,  from  the  voice  of  one 
who  had  been  his  friend  and  who  had  trusted  in  him. 

He  turned  sharply  round  and  beheld  a  tall  man, 
clothed  in  filthy  rags.  His  hair  and  beard  were  white, 
and  he  looked,  at  first  sight,  of  a  great  age.  Yet  there 
was  something  in  his  gait  and  movements  that  seemed 
to  betoken  youth,  disguised  by  sorrow,  poverty,  and 
the  benediction  of  some  terrible  tragedy.  Where  his 
eyes  should  have  looked  forth  upon  the  sunlit  world 
were  two  deep  holes,  like  wounds,  in  which  the  flesh 
was  discoloured  and  dry  and  horrible  to  gaze  upon. 
The  flies  buzzed  about  these  empty  holes  and  settled 
around  their  edges  in  multitudes.  And  the  sound  of 
their  hideous  activity  brought  back  to  Jediah  the 
sound  of  the  flies  in  the  chamber  of  the  god-seller  long 
ago,  when  he  waited  for  the  coming  of  Migdapul  while 
the  darkness  fell.  The  man  beat  continually  with  his 
staff,  and  held  forth  one  thin  hand,  demanding  alms. 

126 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  Help  the  blind !     Help  the  blind !"  he  cried  again. 

Jediah  made  a  step  backwards,  involuntarily  thrust- 
ing abroad  his  hands.  But  Adoram,  bending  to  give 
the  blind  man  alms,  suddenly  exclaimed — 

"  Why,  let  me  look  upon  thee !  Surely,  surely  thou 
art  Johanan,  husband  of  Elcia !" 

"  Yea,"  answered  the  blind  man,  "  I  am  Johanan — 
blind,  deceived,  deserted  Johanan.  And  who  art  thou  ? 
Come  hither.  Nay,  tell  me  not.  Let  me  pass  my 
hands  across  thy  face,  and " 

He  paused.  Then,  lifting  his  lean  hands,  he  stroked 
Adoram's  face  with  a  pathetic  and  trembling  move- 
ment of  anxious  inquiry. 

"  I  am "  began  Adoram. 

But  Johanan  stopped  him. 

"  Ah,  no !"  he  wailed.  "  Tell  me  not !  Let  me  learn 
for  myself.  I  must  teach  myself.  For  I  seek  one  who 
is  hard  to  find.  Wait." 

Again  he  passed  his  thin  hands  over  the  countenance 
of  Adoram,  sensitively,  almost  greedily,  laying  his 
fingers  on  the  Israelite's  eyelids,  on  his  lips,  on  his  hair 
and  forehead.  Then  suddenly  he  cried — 

"  I  know  thee !  Thou  art  of  the  tribe  of  Zoar. 
Wait  a  while — wait !  Ah,  yea — thou  art  Adoram  !" 

As  he  spoke,  Jediah  moved  hastily,  going  backwards 
as  if  in  deadly  fear.  Johanan  caught  the  sound.  He 
lifted  one  hand  to  his  ear  and  listened.  Then  he  said — 

"  Is  it  not  so  ?    Art  thou  not  indeed  Adoram  ?" 

"  Yea,  I  am  Adoram.  But  what  dost  thou  in  Baby- 
lon? And  how  earnest  thou  into  this  sorrowful  con- 
dition ?" 

127 


THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

"  I  seek  my  lost  wife,"  said  the  blind  man.  "  I  seek 
my  Elcia." 

Again  Jediah  moved  a  step  away. 

"  There  is  some  one  with  thee,"  exclaimed  Johanan 
"Who  is  it?" 

"  "Why "  began  Adoram. 

But  Jediah  suddenly  caught  him  by  the  arm  and 
thrust  one  hand  over  his  mouth. 

"  Why  doth  he  not  speak  ?"  continued  Johanan. 
"  Is  he  too  of  the  tribe  of  Zoar  ?  He  doth  not  answer ! 
Doth  he  fear  to  speak  ?  Ask  him  if  he  knoweth  aught 
of  the  man  who  stole  my  Elcia  from  me,  the  wife  of 
my  bosom — of  those  who  tore  out  my  eyes.  Answer 
me,  I  say !  Who  is  by  thy  side  ?" 

The  blind  man  had  become  greatly  excited.  His 
suspicions  were  aroused  by  the  strange  silence  of 
Adoram' s  companion.  And  he  now  moved  forward, 
spreading  out  his  hands  to  grasp  this  presence  that  he 
could  not  see.  Adoram  was  about  to  speak,  but  Jediah 
dragged  him  away.  He  resisted,  crying — 

"  Art  thou  mad  ?  Art  thou  mad,  I  say  ?  What  ails 
thee  ?" 

"  Silence !"  hissed  Jediah  into  his  ear.  "  Silence,  I 
say  !  Come,  come !" 

And  he  pulled  him  frantically  on  into  the  midst  of 
the  crowd.  But  the  blind  man  had  heard  his  voice, 
despite  his  precaution. 

"  Jediah,  son  of  Zoar,  who  was  my  friend !"  Johanan 
cried.  "Jediah!  What  doth  he  in  Babylon?  Why 
does  he  fear  to  speak  to  blind  Johanan  ?" 

"  H'st !  h'st !"  said  Sabaal,  coming  cautiously  out  of 
128 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

the  shadow  of  the  archway  where  he  had  been  con- 
cealed. 

"  Who  speaks  ?"  said  Johanan. 

"  That  was  Jediah,  son  of  Zoar,  who  was  here  but 
now." 

"  What !  Sabaal !  Yea,  it  was  even  Jediah.  I  heard 
his  voice.  But  why  doth  he  fear  me?  I  was  his 
friend.  Dost  hear  ?  His  friend." 

"  I  know  not,  but" — he  hesitated,  musing  darkly, — 
"  perchance  I  can  make  a  guess.  But  enough !  Let 
thine  ears  be  ever  on  the  alert,  Johanan.  Thou  goest 
sometimes  to  the  palace  of  Ishtar  to  ask  alms.  Is  it 
not  so  ?" 

"  It  is  so." 

"  If  thou  canst  get  speech  with  Lemuel,  who  abideth 
there,  give  him  this  cylinder.  It  contains  the  names 
and  the  abiding-places  of  the  leaders  of  the  brethren." 

He  handed  to  him,  surreptitiously,  a  cj'linder.  This 
was  a  sort  of  hollow  tube,  and  within  it,  inscribed  on 
a  film  of  clay  which,  when  wet,  was  used  by  the  dwell- 
ers in  Babylon  as  a  writing  material,  were  the  names 
of  the  Israelites  who  were  chiefly  concerned  in  the 
movement  for  Israel's  freedom.  Then  he  whispered — 

"  Thou  understandest  ?     Be  guarded." 

"  As  of  my  life !"  answered  Johanan,  concealing  the 
cylinder  swiftly  in  his  bosom. 

Sabaal  hastened  away,  and  Johanan,  once  more 
striking  with  his  stick  upon  the  stones  of  the  street, 
lifted  up  his  voice  and  renewed  his  melancholy  cry — 

"  Help  the  blind !     Help  the  blind  !" 

Among  the  Babylonians  who  thronged  the  street, 
9  129 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

buying  from  the  hucksters  and  talking  gaily  to  the 
women  who  strolled  along  the  shadowed  side  of  the 
way  or  looked  out  from  the  windows,  were  Menanahim 
and  some  of  the  courtiers  from  the  royal  palace,  which 
stood  on  an  artificial  mound  to  the  north  of  the  hill 
of  Amram,  with  which  it  was  connected  by  a  broad 
causeway  supported  on  arches.  And  even  as  Johanan 
lifted  up  his  voice,  Meraioth,  who  was  attached  to  the 
house  of  Ishtar,  came  down  the  street  with  Lemuel, 
who  was  now  richly  attired  in  Babylonish  garments 
and  who  wore  upon  his  arms  and  neck  golden  orna- 
ments presented  to  him  by  Ishtar.  As  they  came  up  to 
the  place  where  Menanahim  was  standing,  Meraioth 
said — 

"  And  so,  having  wooed  the  man  unavailingly,  the 
lady  bought  him  as  her  slave.  And  then " 

"  What  happened  then  ?"  asked  Lemuel  simply. 

Meraioth  burst  into  a  laugh,  which  was  echoed  by 
all  the  other  courtiers. 

"  What  ever  happens  when  a  woman  buys  a  hand- 
some man  ?" 

The  laugh  rang  out  again,  and  some  Babylonish 
women,  who  had  gathered  round,  joined  in  it,  respond- 
ing impudently  to  the  significant  glances  of  the  men. 
But  Lemuel  said  gravely — 

"  And  thou  canst  laugh  at  this  ?" 

"And  canst  not  thou?"  sneered  Menanahim,  with 
the  dandified  lisp  that  he  affected.  "It  is  a  merry 
jest." 

"  It  is  new  to  me  to  regard  such  things  as  jests," 
said  Lemuel. 

130 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"Ah  !  but  thou  art  new  to  Babylon,"  said  Meraioth. 

"Indeed  I  am — and  to  the  ways  of  her  people. 
Pardon  my  simplicity." 

"Nay,"  said  Menanahim,  "it  is  refreshing  as  the 
water-springs  in  a  desert.  For  simplicity  in  man,  at 
least  in  Babylon,  is  so  rare." 

"  As  rare  in  her  men  as  innocence  in  her  women  ?" 
asked  Lemuel  quietly. 

Meraioth  turned  to  Menanahim.  His  tinted  lips 
curled  in  a  smile  of  irony. 

"  Innocence  1"  he  cried.  "  Ha,  ha,  ha !  "What  should 
a  daughter  of  Babylon  do  with  innocence  ?" 

"  What,  indeed?"  echoed  his  companions. 

"  The  daughters  of  my  people  regard  it  as  a  price- 
less jewel,"  said  Lemuel.  "I  have  ever  been  taught 
to  reverence  it." 

"  Then,  my  simple  shepherd,"  said  Menanahim,  play- 
ing with  the  seal  that  dangled  from  his  wrist,  "  then 
thou  hast  much  to  learn,  and  hast  been  most  vilely 
taught.  Innocence !  A  mental  blindness  that  leadeth 
its  possessor  into  every  moral  slough  and  pitfall." 

"  Unless  'tis  guided  by  the  ear  of  instinct." 

"  Instinct !"  said  Meraioth,  "  a  woman's  instinct ! 
"When  did  the  instinct  of  a  woman  fail  to  misguide  her 
to  her  natural  enemy,  man  ?" 

"  Man  is  woman's  natural  protector,"  said  Lemuel. 

"Is  he,  shepherd?"  laughed  Menanahim,  bending 
with  mock  courtesy.  "  Is  he  ?  Then  is  he  the  most 
unnatural  of  created  things.  For  never  doth  he  fol- 
low nature's  promptings.  Ah!  my  poor,  untaught 
guardian  of  the  innocent  lamb — study  the  elders  of 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

thy  flocks,  or,  better  still,  go  learn  of  Ishtar.     Ishtar 
is  just  the  tutor  thou  requirest." 

And  he  looked  jealously  askance  at  the  magnificent 
figure  of  Lemuel,  which  contrasted  cruelly  with  his 
own  meagre  form  and  face  lined  with  dissipation. 

"  I  am  content  to  learn  at  Ishtar's  feet,"  said  Lem- 
uel, "and  for  that  learning  would  risk  my  very 
life." 

He  spoke  significantly,  looking  calmly  around  him 
at  the  tittering  Babylonians. 

"  Help  the  blind !"  cried  the  melancholy  voice  of 
Johanan,  who  still  lingered  in  the  street,  and  whose 
sharp  ears  had  caught  the  sound  of  Lemuel's  speech. 

Lemuel  looked  round  and  saw  the  poor  beggar, 
who  carried  his  thin  hand  to  his  bosom,  in  which  the 
cylinder  lay  hidden. 

"  Friends,"  he  said  to  the  Babylonians,  "  will  ye  not 
go  on  to  the  palace  of  Ishtar  to  await  my  coming 
there  ?" 

"  But  why  tarriest  thou  ?"  said  Meraioth.  "  Hath 
our  merry  jest  indeed  shocked  thee  so  much  that  thou 
would'st  leave  us  ?" 

"  Nay,"  answered  Lemuel,  "  but  I  am  in  Babylon  to 
learn  her  ways,  understand  her  jests,  and  study  her 
griefs.  And  I  would  be  alone  a  while  to  watch  the 
crowd  of  those  that  pass." 

"  Oh,  have  thy  way,  shepherd,"  said  Menanahim. 
"  But  thou  wilt  have  jestings  enough  at  Ishtar's  feet 
and  grief  enough  to  give  thee  lifelong  study,  my  poor 
simplicity !  Do  but  sow  rubies  in  Ishtar's  field — thy 
crop  of  grief  will  surely  follow." 

132 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

As  he  spoke  he  made  a  profound  obeisance  before 
Lemuel.  All  the  courtiers  followed  his  example,  as  if 
saluting  the  king  himself.  Then,  retreating  backwards 
before  him,  they  burst  into  a  peal  of  laughter,  and 
turning,  strolled  away  down  the  street,  talking  gaily 
and  making  a  thousand  jests,  saluting  the  pretty 
women  and  throwing  alms  to  the  beggars,  who 
thronged  about  their  footsteps. 

Lemuel  looked  after  them,  murmuring  to  himself — 

"  Perchance  the  grief  will  not  be  mine  alone,  fair 
Lady  Ishtar." 

"  Help  the  blind  !"  cried  Johanan,  drawing  near. 

"  Hold  thine  hands,  father,"  said  Lemuel,  giving  him 
an  alms. 

"Israel  in  bondage,  son  of  Zoar!"  whispered 
Johanan. 

"  Israel  free,  Johanan,  son  of  Elihud,"  whispered 
Lemuel,  in  return. 

Then,  going  closer,  he  added  softly — 

"  What  is  thy  news  ?" 

"Deign  to  place  another  coin  in  my  hands,"  said 
Johanan. 

And  as  Lemuel  did  so  he  secretly  passed  to  him  the 
cylinder  containing  the  names  of  the  chiefs  of  the 
brethren.  Lemuel  scanned  them  eagerly. 

"  The  names  of  our  friends  and  their  dwelling- 
places,"  he  said.  "  I  thank  thee." 

"  Guard  well  the  cylinder,"  murmured  the  blind  man. 
"  It  is  charged  with  death  and  fate." 

"It  is  in  safe  keeping,"  answered  Lemuel,  as  he  con- 
cealed it  in  his  silken  robe. 

133 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  "Water,  my  lord !  Cool  and  sweet  for  those  who 
thirst !"  cried  the  voice  of  Elkanus. 

Lemuel  turned  from  the  blind  man,  saying — 

"  Thou  here,  Elkanus !     Thy  news  ?" 

"  The  brethren  murmur,  oh  Lemuel." 

"At  what?" 

"  At  thy  constant  presence  in  the  house  of  that 
daughter  of  Babylon,  Ishtar,"  exclaimed  the  voice  of 
Sabaal,  who  suddenly  stole  out  of  the  crowd  to  Lem- 
uel's side,  followed  at  a  little  distance  by  Jozadah,  the 
hireling  of  Jediah.  "  Thy  brethren  groan  beneath  the 
lashes  of  this  wanton  and  her  lovers,  while  thou  art 
ever  at  her  feet,  hearkening  to  her  lustful  songs  and 
joining  in  her  shameless  revelry." 

While  he  spoke  a  number  of  wild-looking  men  of 
the  rabble,  bearing  staffs,  had  been  gathering  furtively 
round  Lemuel,  and  as  Jozadah  added — 

"  Ay,  he's  a  traitor  and  would  betray  us  to  the  Baby- 
lonians !  Kill  him !  Kill  him !"  they  rushed  upon 
Lemuel,  joining  in  the  cry. 

But  Lemuel  drew  his  sword,  and  seizing  Jozadah 
and  holding  him  fast  with  one  powerful  hand,  he 
exclaimed — 

"And  hearken  thou,  Jozadah,  spy  and  traitor!  I 
am  at  Ishtar' s  feet  for  no  love  of  her  or  of  her  kind. 
I  have  no  love  save  one,  and  her  I  left  by  Naomi's 
well,  never  to  see  again.  For  that  love's  sake  came  I 
hither.  It  is  strong  enough  to  keep  me  undefined  even 
in  that  place  of  sin  and  lust,  the  house  of  Ishtar.  Let 
the  brethren  be  comforted;  I  am  at  Ishtar's  feet  to 
drag  our  enemies  to  the  dust.  And  amid  all  the  glare 

134 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

of  gems  and  of  wanton  beauty,  there  is  in  my  brain 
and  heart  but  one  thought — Israel  in  bondage,  and 
but  one  desire — Israel  free !" 

He  flung  Jozadah  to  the  ground,  while  the  crowd, 
changed  already  from  enemies  into  friends,  broke  forth 
into  cries  of  approval  and  admiration. 

"  Go  hence !"  he  said  to  Jozadah,  who  lay  trembling 
at  his  feet.  "  Go  hence,  ere  I  stain  my  sword  with  thy 
base  blood !" 

Jozadah,  rising  to  his  feet  in  terror,  made  off,  throw- 
ing many  a  timorous  glance  behind  him.  Then  Lemuel, 
putting  aside  the  Israelites  who  thronged  about  him, 
strode  away  in  the  direction  of  Ishtar's  palace. 

He  was  already  within  sight  of  its  monstrous  walls 
of  gleaming  red  brick,  when  he  encountered  Menana- 
him,  who  was  hurrying,  breathless,  towards  him. 

"  Whom  seekest  thou,  my  lord  ?"  he  asked, 

Menanahim  stopped. 

"  Thee,  oh  favoured  mortal !"  he  answered,  en- 
deavouring to  conceal  the  bitterness  of  his  jealousy. 
"  By  the  Seven,  the  all-powerful  Seven,  Zi-ana-ana  be 
they  conjured !  but  thou  art  the  most  favoured  or  un- 
favoured mortal.  For  I,  after  much  seeking  among 
women,  I — I,  Menanahim,  versed  in  the  ways  of  these 
our  plagues  and  blessings,  our  slaves  and  despots,  those 
whom  we  much  despise  and  much  obey,  whom  we 
fondle  and  fear,  discard,  yet  cannot  live  without — even 
I  cannot  decide  whether  'tis  good  or  evil  for  thee ;  but 
sooth  it  is  either  because  thou  art  new  to  them — and 
the  newest  toy  doth  ever  catch  the  eye  of  child  and 
woman — or  for  some  other  charm,  but  sooth  it  is  that 

135 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

many  of  these,  our  daughters  of  Babylon,  have  looked 
upon  thee  with  an  eye  of  favour,  and  so — and  so " 

"  Take  breath,  my  lord,"  interrupted  Lemuel ;  "  and 
if  thou  hast  a  message,  pray  give  it  to  thy  servant." 

"  I  was  travelling  towards  that — that  same  message." 

"  Hast  thou  not  reached  thy  journey's  end  ?" 

"  Almost,  shepherd,  but  in  sooth  it  is  a  weary  road 
that  a  poor  man  doth  tread  that  hath  a  woman  at  both 
ends  and  a  third  to  watch  him  at  the  half-way." 

"  Well  ? — thy  message  ?" 

"Yerily,  oh  shepherd  of  Israel,  these  sheep,  these 
lambs  of  ours," — and  he  pointed  to  the  towering  palace 
of  Ishtar, — "yea,  even  the  choice  ones  of  the  flock 
of  the  lambs  of  Babylon — do  bleat  themselves  hoarse 
for  thee.  Though,  indeed,  what  they  do  in  thee  be- 
hold  " 

"  I  come  to  them,"  said  Lemuel,  cutting  him  short. 

And,  followed  by  Menanahim,  he  mounted  to  the 
palace. 


136 


CHAPTEK    VIII 

ALMOST  at  the  same  time  that  the  events  related  in 
the  preceding  chapter  were  taking  place,  in  another 
quarter  of  the  city  a  great  crowd  of  Babylonians  had 
assembled  to  see  a  procession  pass  by  to  the  mighty 
temple  of  Bel-Merodach.  This  temple  lay  to  the  north 
of  the  Mound  of  Kasr,  and  was  a  huge  pile  of  brick- 
work, of  quadrilateral  shape,  with  an  almost 'flat  top 
and  precipitous  sides.  Millions  of  bricks  had  been 
used  in  its  construction.  These  bricks  were  made  of 
the  tenacious  mud  found  on  the  alluvial  plains,  mixed 
with  chopped  straw.  Before  they  became  dry  they 
were  placed  on  each  other,  and  the  heat  of  the  sun 
caked  them  together.  They  were  cemented  often  with 
a  material  composed  of  bitumen  and  other  substances, 
and  covered  with  a  glaze  of  rich  enamel,  lustrous  and 
brilliant  to  the  eyes.  The  gates  of  the  temple  were 
made  of  solid  brass.  But  the  most  remarkable  of  its 
features  were  its  eight  towers,  which  were  raised  one 
on  the  top  of  the  other  as  if  they  would  climb  into  the 
highest  heaven.  On  the  outside  of  these  towers  a  path 
had  been  built  which  wound  up  and  up  round  them 
till  it  reached  the  summit.  There  were  seats  by  the 
way,  on  which  those  who  were  weary  might  rest  and 
enjoy  a  magnificent  view  over  Babylon.  Below  this 
temple,  outside  the  vast  precinct  within  which  it  was 
enclosed,  there  was  a  square,  in  which  stood  palm-trees 

137 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

and  flashing  fountains,  and  here  the  people  had  as- 
sembled to  see  the  procession  of  the  god  pass  by.  The 
little  children  were  held  up  in  the  arms  of  their  devout 
and  superstitious  mothers.  The  men  raised  themselves 
on  their  toes  to  see  the  better.  The  beggars,  for  the 
moment,  forgot  their  sores  and  their  necessities,  and 
the  whole  mass  of  human  beings  was  moved  by  but 
one  impulse,  the  impulse  of  worship,  as  the  great 
image,  fashioned  in  pure  gold  that  gleamed  in  the  sun- 
shine, was  borne  by.  Before  it  came  radiantly  beauti- 
ful maidens,  crowned  with  flowers  and  attired  in  rich 
stuffs,  who  sprang  and  danced  as  David  may  have 
danced  before  the  ark,  expressing  religious  enthusiasm 
by  ardent  bodily  exercises,  by  fantastic  gestures,  even 
by  cries  and  wild  exclamations,  which  increased  the 
excitement  of  the  multitude.  They  scattered  flowers 
along  the  path  of  the  god,  twisted  like  Dervishes,  and 
were  untiring  in  agility.  Under  the  glare  of  the  sun 
they  seemed  almost  like  radiant  humming-birds,  or 
birds  of  Paradise.  Their  long  hair  streamed  down 
and  floated  in  a  cloud  round  their  lissome  bodies,  and 
their  little  feet  twinkled  in  the  golden  sandals  which 
they  wore  instead  of  shoes.  Behind  them  came  the 
minstrels,  playing  on  cymbals,  beating  drums,  and 
plucking  the  frail  strings  of  citherns.  And  behind 
them  again  the  singers  solemnly  walked,  uplifting  their 
voices  in  a  great  chorus — 

*'  O  Thou  who  reignest  above  the  Seven, 
And  rulest  the  evil  of  the  South- West  wind  ! 
Burn  up  our  enemies,  lead  us  to  heaven  ; 
In  chains  and  torture  thou  our  foemen  bind. 

138 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

Keep  thou  the  Namtar  from  us — wicked  He 
Who  would  thy  slaves  assail  and  bring  them  woe. 
Oh,  send  thy  sun  to  light  and  set  us  free, 
While  to  Arali  let  our  foemen  go." 

The  shout  of  the  singers  filled  the  sparkling  air  as 
they  passed  on  through  the  mob,  glancing  neither  to 
the  right  nor  the  left.  Then  came  the  priests,  wearing 
the  sacred  skins  of  animals,  and  then  the  statue  of  the 
god,  borne  aloft  on  the  shoulders  of  four  men,  and  fol- 
lowed by  more  priests,  singers,  minstrels,  dancers,  and 
servitors  of  the  temple.  As  it  went  by,  all  the  people 
made  obeisance,  saving  only  the  Jews.  These  turned 
aside  or  shrank  away  in  horror.  But  few  heeded 
them.  For  the  Babylonians,  though  given  over  to 
money-making,  to  gluttony,  and  to  dissipation  of  every 
kind,  were  intensely  superstitious,  and,  in  looking 
upon  the  effigy  of  the  god,  they  had  for  the  moment 
but  one  thought,  one  prayer — to  be  taken  up  at  last, 
after  death  and  the  passing  of  the  soul  from  earthly 
things,  to  the  summit  of  the  great  mountain  hidden  in 
eternal  cloud,  the  mountain  of  the  East,  the  mountain 
of  the  world,  where  the  apex  of  the  firmament  rested, 
and  the  golden  stars  hung  round  like  the  lamps  in  the 
temples  of  Babylon.  Here  would  ascend  only  the 
souls  of  the  great  and  of  the  good  from  the  world  of 
the  dead  which  lay  in  dimness  far  below  the  earth, 
where  all  was  darkness  and  terrible  gloom,  and  the 
spirits  flitted  to  and  fro  like  bats,  with  naught  to 
eat  save  dust  alone.  This  dread  region  was  barred 
by  seven  gates,  and  in  the  midst  of  it  sat  the  rulers 
of  Hades  on  a  throne  of  solid  gold,  beneath  which 

139 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

ran  eternally  the  gushing  waters  of  life.  And 
Merodach  alone — he  who  now  went  by  to  his  temple 
with  the  great  tower  and  the  portals  of  brass — 
could  raise  up  the  spirits  of  the  dead  from  dark- 
ness into  the  world  of  everlasting  light.  So  all  the 
people  prostrated  themselves,  kissing  the  hem  of 
the  priests'  garments,  and  bending  their  souls  to  pray, 
while  the  music  sounded  ever,  and  the  chorus  rang 
out — 

"  O  Thou  who  reignest  above  the  Seven, 
Burn  up  our  enemies,  lead  us  to  heaven  !" 

So  engrossed  were  all  the  people  in  gazing  upon  the 
god  and  in  murmuring  their  prayers  to  it,  that  but  few 
noticed  a  pale  and  travel- worn  boy  who  entered  the 
square  in  the  wake  of  the  procession,  leaning  wearily 
upon  a  staff,  and  moving  slowly  as  one  exhausted  with 
fatigue.  This  boy  had  a  beautiful  face  lit  by  blue  eyes, 
his  hair  was  dark,  and  his  mouth  was  red  as  a  rose, 
while  the  delicate  smallness  of  his  hands  and  feet 
seemed  almost  like  that  of  a  girl.  He  looked  very 
young,  scarcely  seventeen,  and  had  a  strange  air  of 
helpfulness  and  of  bewilderment  in  the  throng  and  in 
the  press  of  the  multitude.  Among  all  this  multitude, 
at  first  only  one  human  being  noticed  him,  and  this 
was  a  buxom  fruit-girl  who  was  seated  upon  the  mar- 
ble steps  of  a  house  with  her  big  basket  at  her  feet. 
Her  sense  of  religion  did  not  prevent  her  from  keeping 
an  eye  on  her  worldly  prosperity,  and,  on  perceiving 
this  fatigued  wanderer,  she  cried  out  in  a  ringing 
voice — 

140 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Eipe  fruit !     Sweet  grapes !" 

The  boy  hesitated,  and  looked  eagerly  towards  her 
basket,  in  which  the  fruit  lay  temptingly  surrounded 
by  fresh  green  leaves. 

"  I  parch  with  thirst,"  he  murmured.  "  Child,  are 
those  costly?"  he  added,  pointing  to  the  grapes. 

"  Wert  thou  a  daughter  of  Babylon,  they  would  be," 
replied  the  girl  gaily ;  "  but  since  thou  art  but  a  stran- 
ger boy,  and  hast  bright  eyes  and  a  face  goodly  to 
look  upon,  they  shall  not  be  costly  unto  thee." 

And,  as  she  spoke,  she  cast  upon  him  a  glance  full 
of  open  admiration. 

The  boy  drew  forth  a  coin  and  gave  it  to  her,  saying — 

"  Will  that  suffice  ?" 

"  For  thee  to  pay  ?  Yea,  sweet  shepherd,'1  replied  the 
girl,  handing  to  him  a  goodly  bunch  of  purple  grapes. 

"How  knowest  thou  me  for  a  shepherd?"  asked  the 
boy. 

"  Firstly,  thou  art  timid,  like  the  sheep ;  then  thou 
art  not  of  Babylon,  else  had'st  thou  praised  mine  eyes 
and  my  form  and  face,  as  I  even  now  praised  thine. 
Thou  art  from  the  plains,  art  thou  not  ?" 

"  I  am,"  said  the  boy  more  feebly,  "  and  weary  with 
my  long  travel." 

The  girl  moved  and  made  room  on  the  step  beside  her. 

"  Sit  thou  here,"  she  said  coaxingly. 

The  boy  obeyed. 

"  Hast  thou  come  from  very  far  ?"  the  girl  continued, 
looking  closely  into  his  white  face. 

"  Yea." 

"  And  did'st  thou  walk?" 
141 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"Yea." 

"  Art  thou  not  an  Israelite  ?" 

The  boy  hesitated  for  a  moment.     Then  he  said — 

"  I  am." 

"  A  pretty  boy,  a  stranger,  and  an  Israelite,"  said  the 
girl ;  "  beware  lest  they  do  sell  thee  into  slavery." 

"•  They  will  not  dare !"  exclaimed  the  boy,  with  a 
sudden  flash  of  energy,  "  I  am  a  free  worn " 

"  What  ?" 

"  I  say  I  am  free." 

"'Twill  avail  thee  but  little  to  say  thou  art  free 
unless  thou  hast  friends  to  protect  thee.  Our  lords  of 
Babylon  look  upon  all  Israelites  as  their  lawful  bonds- 
men. It  was  but  yesterday  we  had  a  riot  in  the  streets, 
and  every  Israelite  who  was  at  hand  was  taken  and 
whipped  and  sold  in  the  market-place." 

"  Alas !"  cried  the  boy,  trembling  visibly  and  shrink- 
ing against  the  wall. 

"  Why,"  said  the  fruit-girl,  "  thou  art  trembling ! 
Thou  art  a  very  timid  boy,  even  for  a  shepherd." 

"  Nay,  but  I  never  saw  a  city  like  unto  this  before, 
and  the  noise,  the  people,  the  great  buildings — all  do 
oppress  me." 

"  But  why  did'st  thou  come  to  Babylon  ?" 

"  That  I  may  not  tell,"  answered  the  boy. 

He  hesitated.  Then  he  put  an  arm  around  the  girl's 
shoulder,  and  said  more  impulsively — 

"  And  yet — let  me  look  into  thine  eyes — yea,  I  will 
trust  thee." 

"  Thou  may'st,"  said  the  girl,  "  for  I  do  swear  I  like 
thee  well." 

142 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

"  I  came,  then,  to  seek  one  called  Lemuel,  son  of 
Zoar,  an  Israelite.  Knowest  thou  aught  of  him  ?" 

"  Who  doth  not  ?"  exclaimed  the  girl.  «  Why,  all  the 
city  speaks  of  him.  Is  he  thy  lord  ?" 

"  My  lord  ?     Ah,  yes  !" 

"  I  saw  him  abroad  in  the  city  but  this  very  morn- 
ing." 

The  boy  suddenly  started  up,  exclaiming — 

"  Here  ?    Oh,  Lemuel !  Lemuel !" 

"  Well,"  said  the  fruit-girl,  staring  in  amazement, 
"  that's  strange  !  So  might  a  girl  call  out  the  name  of 
her  lover.  This  same  Lemuel  must  be  a  gentle  master, 
if  thou  dost  love  him  thus." 

"Yes,  yes — he  is,  he  is!"  said  the  boy,  still  with 
excitement.  "  But  whither  went  he  ?  Who  was  with 
him  ?  Where  is  he  now  ?" 

"  Well,  he  went  hence  with  some  of  Ishtar's  fine 
lords  and  ladies." 

"  Ishtar !     What  is  Ishtar  ?" 

"  One  who  maketh  men  mad  with  love — and  who 
selleth  her  love  to  the  highest  bidder,  That  is  the  way 
in  Babylon,  shepherd." 

"  Can  love  be  bought  and  sold  ?" 

"  Yea.  And  so  Ishtar  grows  rich  and  queens  it  over 
kings  and  princes." 

"  And — and  Lemuel  ?"  asked  the  boy. 

"Is  ever  at  her  feet,  and  she,  for  a  miracle,  doth 
leave  all  others  at  a  beckon  from  his  finger,  though  he 
be  but  poor." 

"But — but  he — doth  not  love  her?  Lemuel  could 
not  indeed  love  such  a  woman." 

143 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Ah,  boy,  when  them  art  older  thou  wilt  be  wiser. 
Men — and  I  speak  who  have  met  many,  selling  my 
fruit  here  in  the  streets — men  are  strange  creatures 
and  unaccountable." 

The  boy's  white  face  grew  whiter,  and  his  delicate 
limbs  trembled  more  piteously,  as  he  cried  in  a  lament- 
able voice — 

"But  he — Lemuel — could  not!  I  know  him.  Ah, 
help!  help!" 

The  fruit-girl  sprang  up,  knocking  over  her  basket. 

"  What  aileth  thee  ?"  she  cried.  "  The  blood  forsakes 
thy  cheek !" 

Even  as  she  spoke,  the  boy  wavered  and  dropped 
down  at  her  very  feet.  The  fruit-girl,  in  terror,  cried 
aloud  for  help,  and  the  crowd,  now  ready  for  any 
diversion,  since  the  god  had  been  borne  within  the 
precinct  of  his  temple,  began  to  gather  round  the 
prostrate  shepherd,  who  lay  to  all  appearance  lifeless 
on  the  stones. 

As  they  were  all  uttering  exclamations  and  buzzing 
with  comments,  a  loud  and  authoritative  voice  ex- 
claimed— 

"  What  hath  happened  ?  Eoom,  I  say !  room ! 
Stand  clear  there !" 

And  the  Lord  Alorus,  accompanied  by  several  richly 
dressed  attendants,  pushed  his  way  through  the  throng. 

"  What  is  this,  girl  ?"  he  said  to  the  fruit-seller. 

"  This  boy  hath  swooned,"  she  answered  piteously. 

"  The  heat  of  the  day " 

"  Nay,  my  lord,  I  think  not  so.  'Tis  something  con- 
cerning his  master,  Lemuel,  so  please  you." 

144 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Lemuel !"  said  Alorus. 

And,  bending  down,  he  lifted  the  boy's  head  on  his 
arm,  and  gazed  into  the  white  face. 

"  By  Baal !"  he  murmured,  in  astonishment,  "  'tis  the 
lovely  Elna !  Give  me  some  water !"  he  cried  aloud. 

Elkanus,  the  water-carrier,  pushed  his  way  to  the 
step  and  handed  him  water  in  a  gourd.  Alorus  put 
the  gourd  to  the  lips  of  Elna,  who  stirred  and  stretched 
forth  one  hand,  as  if  seeking  help. 

"  'Tis  a  pretty  boy,"  said  the  fruit-girl,  "  but  weak 
as  a  girl." 

"Thou  speakest  truth,"  said  Alorus,  smiling.  "As 
weak  as  a  girl,  in  very  sooth." 

At  this  moment  Elna  recovered  her  senses  somewhat. 
She  sat  up,  stared  wildly  round,  and,  seeing  all  the 
strange  faces  watching  her,  cried  out  in  terror — 

"Ah,  release  me — I  have  done  no  harm.  Let  mo 
go!" 

As  she  spoke  she  rose,  trembling,  to  her  feet,  and 
took  her  staff  from  the  hands  of  a  Babylonian  who 
had  picked  it  up. 

"  Thou  art  safe — boy,"  said  Alorus,  with  meaning. 

"Boy!"  said  Elna.  "Ah,  yes — I  know  now.  But 

Lemuel "  she  passed  her  hand  across  her  eyes — 

"  where  is " 

She  turned  round  and  beheld  Alorus  smiling  at 
her. 

"Ah,  the  Lord  Alorus,"  she  exclaimed.  "How 
came  I  thus  ?" 

"He  knoweth  thee,  my  lord,"  said  the  fruit-girl,  in 
surprise.  "  Dost  thou  know  him  ?" 

145 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Should  I  not,  girl,"  said  Alorus,  laughing,  "  seeing 
that  this  boy  is  one  of  my  slaves." 

"  Slave !"  said  Elna,  in  terror.  "  I — a  slave !  Nay, 
nay!" 

Alorus  went  up  to  her,  caught  her  by  the  arm,  and 
whispered — 

"Admit  it!  Own  that  thou  art  my  slave,  or  thou 
art  lost." 

"  Slave !"  murmured  Elna.     "  Ah,  Lemuel !" 

And  she  looked  appealingly  at  Alorus. 

"  Own  it,"  he  whispered,  "  and  I  will  take  thee  unto 
Lemuel.  I  am  thy  friend." 

"  I  can  trust  thee  ?"  said  Elna,  gazing  at  him  doubt- 
fully and  with  fear  in  her  lovely  eyes. 

"  Yes,  yes." 

He  turned  to  one  of  his  attendants. 

"Hither,  Jael,"  he  said.  "This  boy  is  my  slave. 
None  have  I  of  more  value  to  me.  On  thy  head  be 
it  if  he  escapes  thee." 

As  he  spoke  the  attendants  surrounded  Elna.  But 
she  shrank  away  from  them,  crying — 

"Let  me  go! — I  can  walk  now.  I  shall  not  faint 
again.  I  can  walk — but  do  not  touch  me,  I  pray  thee." 

And  she  took  a  few  steps  forward,  moving  with 
difficulty  and  with  a  wavering  gait.  The  attendants, 
crowding  about  her,  would  have  supported  her,  but, 
with  feeble  hands,  she  tried  to  thrust  them  away,  ex- 
claiming— 

"No,  no!  Touch  me  not.  I  am  well  now — quite 
well !" 

But  even  as  she  spoke  the  words  she  staggered  again 
146 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

and  would  have  fallen,  had  not  Alorus  himself  caught 
her  in  his  arms,  and,  lifting  her  up  some  steps  that  led 
to  an  archway  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  square,  disap- 
peared with  her  towards  his  palace. 

The  crowd  began  quickly  to  separate  and  to  resume 
their  occupations,  interrupted  by  the  procession  of  the 
god  and  this  subsequent  incident.  Soon  the  fruit-girl 
sat  alone  with  her  basket. 

Her  eyes  were  still  fixed  on  the  archway  through 
which  Alorus  and  the  shepherd  boy  had  disappeared, 
and  she  thought  to  herself — 

"  Poor  boy !  And  he  so  dreaded  slavery !  Truly, 
Babylon  is  a  cruel  city." 

Then,  lifting  up  her  clear  young  voice,  she  cried 
again  and  again — 

"  Grapes !  Sweet  grapes !  Who  will  buy  sweet 
grapes  ?" 


147 


CHAPTEK  IX 

ON  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  Ishtar's  retinue  of 
slaves  were  arranging  the  silken  cushions  and  the 
golden  and  ivory  couches  upon  the  terrace  of  her 
palace  garden.  Almost  every  night  she  held  a  sort 
of  gay  court  under  the  palms  and  the  cypress-trees. 
The  Indians,  or  the  Babylonish  maidens,  danced,  the 
charmers  of  snakes  exhibited  their  reptiles,  and  the 
air  was  full  of  the  soft  glimmer  of  distant  music. 
Hither  came  all  the  flower  of  the  youth  of  the  city,  all 
the  great  nobles,  all  the  dandies,  and,  more  strangely, 
perhaps,  many  men  of  learning — astrologers,  politi- 
cians, and  soothsayers.  For  Ishtar  knew  how  to  at- 
tract the  thinkers  and  the  philosophers  as  well  as  the 
empty-headed  and  the  idly  frivolous.  Her  face  was 
beautiful,  but  she  was  no  mask  without  a  brain  or  soul 
behind  it.  And  there  were  men  who  worshipped  her 
for  her  mind  even  more  than  for  her  great  eyes  and 
her  magnificent  bearing. 

The  slaves  were  alone  in  the  garden,  for  Ishtar  was 
within  the  palace  feasting  with  some  guests,  and  the 
sound  of  far-away  citherns  and  flutes  stole  out  to  the 
shadowy  spaces  beside  the  water.  Down  in  the  city 
the  red  and  yellow  lights  were  beginning  to  twinkle, 
and  the  soft  darkness  of  night  closed  rapidly  round. 

The  slaves,  as  they  went  about  their  work,  chattered 
among  themselves  of  the  doings  of  their  lady,  of  the 

148 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

despair  of  her  lovers,  of  the  rich  gifts  that  were  ever 
being  offered  at  her  shrine,  of  a  thousand  things. 
Sometimes  they  broke  forth  into  laughter,  but  the 
laughter  was  low  and  hushed,  and  even  the  chatter 
seemed  submissive  and  surreptitious.  As  they  were 
heaping  up  a  pile  of  cushions  by  one  of  the  fountains, 
Sabaal,  the  slave  of  Alorus,  entered  the  garden  by 
some  marble  steps  that  led  to  a  lower  terrace,  and, 
coming  upon  one  of  the  slaves,  said  to  him — 

"My  Lord  Alorus  cometh  hither.  Where  is  Ish- 
tar?" 

"Ask  where  is  Lemuel,"  the  slave  replied  signifi- 
cantly. 

Two  or  three  of  his  companions  laughed. 

"  Where  is  Lemuel,  then  ?"  said  Sabaal. 

"Even  where  Ishtar  is,"  answered  the  slave,  who 
was  a  captive  Israelite.  "This  our  deliverer!  Ever 
at  the  feet  of  this  daughter  of  Babylon,  hearkening  to 
her  wanton  love-songs  and  gazing  upon  her  charms !" 

An  angry  look  crossed  the  dark  face  of  Sabaal,  but 
he  answered — 

"  Thou  wrongest  Lemuel.  He  is  here  not  for  the 
sake  of  Ishtar  but  of  Israel.  Where  can  he  so  easily 
spy  out  the  nakedness  of  the  land  as  among  these 
drunken  lords  who  revel  in  Ishtar's  palace  ?  Lemuel 
is  true,  but  we  who  are  weak  must  work  by  guile. 
Trust  him  as  thou  would'st  trust  thyself." 

"  Sayest  thou "  began  the  slave. 

But  Sabaal  suddenly  whispered — 

"  My  master !     Silence !" 

Even  as  he  spoke  the  Lord  Alorus  approached,  at- 
149 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

tended  by  his  slaves,  and  said  to  the  slaves  of  Ishtar, 
who  bowed  before  him — 

"  Where  is  thy  lady  ?" 

"  Within  the  inner  gates,  oh  lord,"  replied  the  slave 
who  had  spoken  with  Sabaal. 

"  Go,  tell  her  I  have  come  as  bidden,"  said  Alorus. 

The  slaves  of  Ishtar  retired  towards  the  palace  court, 
and  Alorus,  turning  to  Sabaal,  said — 

"  Eemain  thou  here,  Sabaal,  and  be  at  my  side  when 
the  Lady  Ishtar  comes  hither." 

"  I  will  be  at  my  lord's  bidding,"  said  Sabaal,  with 
the  deep  servility  that  he  always  displayed  towards 
his  possessor. 

Alorus  walked  slowly  along  the  terrace  and  re- 
turned. He  seemed  to  be  deep  in  thought.  Pres- 
ently, he  lifted  up  his  head  and  said  to  Sabaal — 

"  Sabaal,  a  new  slave  hath  been  added  to  my  house- 
hold  " 

He  paused. 

"  Yea,  my  lord  ?"  said  Sabaal. 

"  A  boy,"  continued  Alorus,  "  one — Amos.  He  hath 
gone  to  my  palace  under  the  care  of  Jael.  This — ah 
— this  boy  is  precious  in  my  sight,  although  a  slave. 
See  that  he  is  well  cared  for  when  thou  returnest.  Let 
him  have  the  chamber  next  unto  mine  own.  Set  him 
no  task,  but  let  one  of  the  handmaidens  be  sent  to 
him.  He  is  but  young,  and  the  rough  ways  of  the 
men  slaves  may  affright  him.  Dost  understand  ?" 

"  I  understand,  my  lord,"  answered  Sabaal. 

"  As  thou  dost  with  him,"  said  Alorus,  with  empha- 
sis, "  so  shalt  thou  win  my  favour.  If  any  harm  come 

150 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

to  him,  on  thy  head  be  it.  Eemain  thou  here.  I 
would  be  alone  for  a  while." 

And  on  the  last  words  he  moved  slowly  away  down 
one  of  the  small  and  shaded  paths  of  the  garden,  still 
bending  down  his  head  as  if  in  profound  thought.  As 
he  went,  the  whole  demeanour  of  Sabaal  abruptly 
changed.  The  servility  died  out  of  his  face  and  his 
bearing.  He  half  started  forward,  with  one  strong 
arm  raised  as  if  to  do  violence  to  his  master,  while  he 
muttered  between  his  teeth — 

"Thy  favour!  Thine!  Ah,  when  my  hand  is  on 
thy  throat,  my  knife  in  thy  heart,  thou  wilt  grant  me 
all  the  favour  I  care  to  take  at  thy  hands — thy  dying 
groans,  thou  arrogant  Babylonian !" 

And  then,  as  if  fatigued  by  the  rage  that  possessed 
him,  he  flung  himself  down  upon  the  ground,  beneath 
an  immense  cypress-tree,  and  buried  his  head  in  his 
arms.  To  the  murmur  of  music  within  the  palace  of 
Ishtar  was  now  added  the  sound  of  song,  very  soft  and 
distant,  but  clear  and  tender  in  the  night.  As  Sabaal 
crouched  beneath  the  cypress-tree,  hot  with  the  fury 
of  his  wrongs  and  of  his  servitude,  he  heard  the  sing- 
ing as  a  man  may  hear  echoes  in  an  evil  dream  of  the 
night.  The  voices  seemed  to  him  like  the  voices  of 
devils,  mocking  his  wrongs  and  the  wrongs  of  his  per- 
secuted people.  And,  with  a  muttered  imprecation  on 
Babylon  and  on  all  within  her  mighty  walls,  he  was 
about  to  thrust  his  fingers  into  his  ears  when  he  heard 
another  sound  beside  the  music,  a  cautious  and  hesi- 
tating footstep  upon  the  terrace  near  him.  He  raised 
his  head  and  saw,  standing  full  in  the  light  of  the 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

rising  moon,  the  slight  figure  of  a  boy,  who  appeared 
to  be  listening  to  the  music  within  the  palace.  This 
boy,  after  a  moment's  pause,  stole  very  cautiously  for- 
ward, as  if  intending  to  gain  the  archway  of  the  first 
court  of  the  palace.  But  Sabaal,  starting  up  with 
the  swiftness  of  a  panther,  intercepted  him  and  ex- 
claimed— 

«  Whither  goest  thou  ?' 

The  boy  uttered  a  cry  of  surprise. 

"Sabaal!" 

Then  he  shrank  away,  concealing  his  face  in  the 
folds  of  the  garment  he  wore. 

"  "Whither  goest  thou  ?"  repeated  Sabaal  roughly, 
coming  towards  him. 

"  What  is  that  to  thee  ?"  answered  the  boy,  without 
lifting  his  face. 

"  Who  art  thou  ?"  continued  Sabaal. 

"  I  seek  my  master,"  said  the  boy. 

"  Who  is  thy  master?" 

"  Lemuel,  son  of  Zoar." 

Sabaal  made  a  movement  of  surprise.  Then  he  said 
with  caution — 

"  What  wantest  thou  with  Lemuel,  son  of  Zoar?" 

"  I — I  have  a — a  message  for  him,"  murmured  the 
boy  with  obvious  hesitation. 

"  From  whom  ?" 

The  boy  was  silent  for  an  instant;  then  he  said, 
slowly  and  timidly — 

"  From  my  Lord  Alorus." 

"  So !  so !  "  exclaimed  Sabaal.  "  Left'st  thou  but 
now  the  Lord  Alorus  ?" 

152 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  But — but  a  short  time  since." 

"And  he  sent  thee  hither  with  a  message,  thou 
say'st?" 

"  Have  I  not  said  ?" 

"  Yea,  thou  hast — that  which  is  false.  The  Lord 
Alorus  hath  sent  thee  with  no  message  hither,  for  he 
is  himself  within." 

"  Ah  !"  exclaimed  the  boy. 

And  he  turned  suddenly  as  if  to  flee.  But  Sabaal 
caught  him  fast  by  the  wrist,  crying — 

"  Now  let  me  see  thy  face !" 

"  No,  no !"  cried  the  boy. 

"  I  will,  I  tell  thee !"  said  Sabaal  angrily. 

And  he  seized  the  boy  in  his  arms,  swung  him 
round,  and  tore  the  robe  from  his  face,  exclaim- 
ing— 

"  Thou  fool !     Let  me  look  on  thee  !" 

Then,  as  he  saw  the  boy's  face  in  the  moonlight,  he 
cried — 

"  Elna !" 

"  Yea,"  Elna  answered,  drooping  her  head. 

"  Mad,  wicked  girl !     What  brought  thee  hither?" 

"Love,"  she  answered,  in  a  low  voice,  while  her 
cheeks  were  stained  with  scarlet. 

"Love  for  whom?" 

"  My  lord." 

"Thy  lord?    Jediah  ?" 

"  Jediah ! — nay,  Lemuel." 

"Thou  art  here  to  seek  Lemuel?" 

"Yea." 

"  And  thou  hast  left  our  people  to  seek  Lemuel  in 

153 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

Babylon,  and  in  a  garb  that,  for  a  woman,  is  an  abomi- 
nation and  a  sin  ?" 

"  I  count  naught  sinful  that  I  do  to  protect  the  man 
I  love,"  answered  Elna,  with  sudden  firmness. 

"  Protect  him !"  said  Sabaal,  with  contempt.  "  Fool- 
ish maid !  thou  art  more  like  to  destroy  him.  Lem- 
uel hath  sterner  work  than  dallying  with  a  love-sick 
girl.  He  is  in  danger." 

"  For  that  came  I  hither,"  said  Elna  proudly.  "  I 
will  share  it." 

"Ay,  and  thou  wilt  double  it,"  retorted  Sabaal 
roughly.  "  Get  thee  hence !" 

But  Elna  stood  her  ground  bravely.  All  her  timid- 
ity seemed  to  have  left  her.  She  faced  Sabaal  now 
with  fearless  eyes  as  she  answered,  unflinchingly, — 

"  Not  until  I  have  looked  on  him  for  whom  I  have 
come  up  to  this  accursed  city." 

"  Accursed,  indeed !"  said  Sabaal,  "  and  accursed  be 
thou  if  thou  dost  hinder  or  destroy  the  work  that 
Lemuel  hath  to  do  within  its  walls.  Wilt  thou  hence, 
I  say  ?" 

"  Not  until  I  have  seen  him." 

As  he  said  the  last  words,  unperceived  of  him  or  of 
Elna,  Lemuel  came  forth  from  the  inner  court  of  the 
palace  and  advanced  into  the  garden.  Sabaal  sprang 
upon  Elna  and  laid  his  hands  on  her  throat,  crying 
furiously — 

"  Sooner  than  that,  these  hands  shall  choke  thee  !" 

"  Help  !"  she  shrieked.  "  Help,  my  lord  !  help ! 
Lemuel,  Lemuel !" 

"Silence,  thou  madwoman!"  cried  Sabaal,  forcing 

154 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

her  backward  towards  the  steps  that  led  to  the  lower 
terrace. 

But  Lemuel,  hearing  a  voice  cry  out  his  name,  and 
seeing  the  struggle  between  Sabaal  and  Elna,  sprang 
forward,  exclaiming — 

"  Who  calleth  upon  me  ?  Sabaal,  let  the  boy 
go!" 

"  Nay,  he  is  a  spy,  a  traitor,"  returned  Sabaal,  still 
forcing  Elna  towards  the  steps.  "  Look  not  on  his 
face." 

"  Let  him  go,"  reiterated  Lemuel,  in  a  commanding 
voice. 

"  Nay,  I  will  not !"  cried  Sabaal. 

And  he  cast  his  cloak  over  Elna's  face. 

"  I  will  see  his  face,"  exclaimed  Lemuel,  advancing. 

"  To  look  on  him  is  death,"  said  Sabaal. 

But  Lemuel,  heedless  of  his  words,  caught  him  by 
the  throat,  and  hurled  him  to  the  ground,  saying — 

"  Did  I  not  tell  thee  to  let  him  go  ?  Now,  boy — 
Elna!" 

Elna,  who  was  panting  from  excitement  and  from 
the  violence  to  which  she  had  been  subjected,  made  no 
reply.  She  could  not  speak.  She  could  only  stand 
before  Lemuel  with  downcast  eyes  and  heaving  bosom. 

"What  hath  brought  thee  hither?"  exclaimed  Lem- 
uel, in  profound  amazement. 

"  My  love  for  thee,"  whispered  Elna. 

And  she  sank  down  against  the  alabaster  wall  of  the 
terrace,  resting  her  lovely  dark  head  among  a  cloud  of 
huge  red  flowers  that  climbed  and  clung  there.  Lem- 
uel bent  over  her  for  an  instant  as  if  to  take  her  in 

155 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

his  arms.  Then  he  controlled  himself,  and  said  to 
Sabaal — 

"Sabaal,  go  hence  and  keep  the  Lord  Alorus  from 
coming  hither." 

"And  leave  thee  with  this  maid?"  said  Sabaal 
bitterly. 

"  Yea." 

"  I  entreat  thee,  Lemuel,  think  of  thy  danger !" 

"  I  care  naught  for  danger." 

"  The  sacred  cause  of  Israel " 

"  No  cause  of  Israel  is  more  sacred  than  the  honour 
of  her  daughters.  Do  as  I  bid  thee.  Go  !" 

Sabaal,  whose  eyes  gleamed  with  fury  and  a  rage  of 
disappointment,  clinched  his  sinewy  hands  together, 
as  if  he  refrained  but  with  difficulty  from  rushing 
upon  Lemuel  to  do  him  violence. 

"  Accursed  be  the  woman !"  he  hissed,  "  and  thrice 
accursed  be  thou  if,  for  her  sake,  thou  dost  betray 
those  who  have  trusted  in  thee !" 

Then,  with  an  inarticulate  exclamation  that  was 
almost  like  the  snarl  of  some  savage  animal,  he  slipped 
away  into  the  shades  towards  the  palace. 

When  he  had  gone,  Lemuel  bent  down  and  raised 
Elna  up  in  his  arms.  She  was  gradually  recovering 
and  now  looked  up  more  confidently  into  his  face. 

"How  earnest  thou  hither?"  he  asked  her  tenderly. 

"  I  followed  the  caravan." 

"  And  in  this  attire  ?" 

"  Yea,"  she  answered. 

"  Unknown  to  my  father  ?" 

«  Yea." 

156 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"And  to  my  brother?" 

"  Even  so." 

"Dost  thou  know,  my  Elna,  that  to  do  this  is  a 
crime  in  the  eyes  of  our  people  ?  A  crime  for  which 
there  is  but  one  punishment — even  death  ?" 

Elna's  thoughts  flew  back  to  that  day  when,  as  a 
child,  she  stood  beneath  the  Judgment  Seat  and  cried, 
with  her  pitiful  little  voice,  to  Jediah  for  mercy,  while 
the  stern  crowd  hurried  the  man  and  the  maiden, 
taken  in  sin,  towards  the  place  of  stones.  She  saw 
again,  as  in  a  vision,  their  pale  and  agonised  faces. 
She  heard  the  cruel  stones  falling — falling  around 
them.  Yet  she  answered  and  said  to  Lemuel,  with  no 
tremor  in  her  soul — 

"  I  fear  it  not." 

And  she  spake  that  which  was  the  truth. 

"  Death  not  alone  to  thee,  Elna,"  continued  Lemuel, 
"  but  to  the  man  whom  thou  hast  fled  to." 

"  It  was  to  save  thee  from  death  that  I  came  hither," 
she  answered.  And  now,  indeed,  there  was  fear  in  her 
voice. 

"  What  meanest  thou  ?"  asked  Lemuel. 

"  Thy  brother,  Jediah,  hath  laid  snares  for  thy  de- 
struction and  hath  plotted  for  thy  death." 

An  expression  of  deep  surprise  came  into  the  face 
of  Lemuel. 

"  Impossible !"  he  exclaimed.  "  Jediah  is  harsh  and 
stern,  but  just — and  I  am  his  brother." 

"  And  his  rival,  Lemuel.  The  night  thou  did'st  de- 
part for  Babylon,  Tirzah  overheard  him  offer  Jozadah 
a  bribe  to  slay  thee." 

157 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Jozadah !  Ah,  now  I  understand !  It  was  he  who 
attacked  me  even  this  very  day  in  a  street  of  the  city 
— who  would  have  slain  me !" 

Elna  trembled  in  his  arms. 

"  How  horrible !"  she  murmured.  "  Ah,  Lemuel — 
leave  this  accursed  Babylon !  Let  us  go — now — now !" 

And  she  rose  up  as  if  to  flee.  But  Lemuel  stood 
still,  and,  looking  upon  her  with  unutterable  tenderness, 
said  to  her — 

"And  thou  hast  braved  the  desert,  the  perils  of 
Babylon,  and  the  penalty  of  the  law  to  tell  me  of  this 
treachery  ?" 

"  Yea,"  she  answered. 

Then  a  shade  came  across  her  face,  and  she 
added — 

"And  to  find  thee  at  the  feet  of  another." 

"  Thou,  too,  dost  doubt  me,  Elna  ?  Dost  thou — canst 
thou  believe  that  I  am  in  this  woman's  house  for  love 
of  her  ?" 

"  How  else  ?"  she  said,  the  suspicious  thoughts  of  a 
loving  woman  growing  in  her  heart,  "  how  else  ?  They 
have  said " 

"  And  who  are  they  ?"  he  interposed.  "  '  They'  are 
the  murderers  of  reputations.  '  They  have  said !' 
Trust  not  in  them.  I  tell  thee,  I  am  here  for  the  sake 
of  our  captive  brethren." 

"Thou  speakest  indeed  truth  to  me?"  she  said,  still 
with  an  accent  of  doubt. 

She  came  close  to  him  and,  putting  her  small  hands 
on  his  heart,  gazed  into  his  eyes. 

"  Dost  thou  doubt  me  ?"  he  said. 

158 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"Ah,  no!"  she  cried,  laying  her  head  against  his 
heart.  "  I  trust  thee  now  and  always." 

But,  suddenly,  Lemuel  loosed  his  arms  from  about 
her  and  put  her  back  from  him. 

"Alorus  cometh!"  he  whispered.  "Stand  away! 
Hide  thyself!" 

He  motioned  hastily  with  his  hand  towards  some 
palm-trees,  and,  quick  as  thought,  Elna  darted  into 
the  shadow.  A  crowd  of  Babylonians  was  indeed 
approaching  from  the  palace,  attended  by  numerous 
slaves  who  carried  fans  and  torches.  In  the  forefront 
of  the  crowd  walked  Alorus,  with  his  usual  affected 
and  almost  feminine  gait,  and  as  he  drew  near  to 
Lemuel  he  said — 

"  Here  is  the  truant !  Yerily,  good  shepherd,  thou 
art  bold  to  show  this  neglect  of  thine  hostess.  See 
where  she  doth  come  to  bring  thee  to  account." 

The  Babylonians  drew  aside,  and  a  number  of  the 
female  slaves  of  Ishtar  advanced,  scattering  flowers  for 
their  mistress  to  walk  upon.  Ishtar  herself  followed 
them,  walking  slowly,  like  a  queen.  She  was  attired 
to-night  in  a  flowing  robe  of  silk,  purple  as  the  clear 
sky  at  midnight,  and  embroidered  with  raised  stars  of 
silver,  in  each  of  which  was  set  a  glowing  sapphire  of 
enormous  size  and  incomparable  lustre.  Round  her 
superb  throat  was  a  great  collar  of  various  precious 
gems,  and  more  jewels  glittered  on  her  arms,  in  her 
ears,  and  in  the  heavy  masses  of  her  hair ;  while  her 
waist  was  girt  with  a  chain  of  wrought  silver,  from 
which  hung  strings  of  pearls.  Her  wonderful  dark 
eyes  searched  the  garden  as  she  advanced,  and  when 

159 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

she  perceived  Lemuel  standing  by  Alorus  in  the  glare 
of  the  torches,  she  said — 

"  Ah !  thou  art  here !  Why  did'st  thou  leave  the 
feast  ?" 

"  The  wise  man  doth  not  seek  to  drain  all  life's  hap- 
piness at  one  draught,"  answered  Lemuel. 

"Did'st  thou  hear  that,  Menanahim?"  said  Ishtar, 
with  a  smile,  to  the  haggard  courtier  who  was  close  at 
her  side. 

"Yes,"  he  answered,  "our  shepherds  are  quick  to 
learn." 

"  He  is  but  a  poor  shepherd  who  hath  not  learned 
to  know  a  sheep  when  he  seeth  one,"  said  Lemuel  to 
Menanahim. 

Then,  bowing  low  before  Ishtar,  while  the  slaves 
stood  silently  around  her,  he  added — 

"  With  such  a  tutor,  who  could  be  slow  ?  To  learn 
of  Ishtar  is  but  to  follow  instinct.  As  instinct  leadeth 
the  camel  to  the  oasis  and  to  the  waters,  so  follow  I 
man's  instinct,  which  leadeth  me  out  of  the  desert  of 
common  mortals  to  the  oasis  where  dwelleth  and  reign  - 
eth  the  goddess  Ishtar." 

"  Better  and  better,"  said  Ishtar  gaily.  "  'Twas  well 
and  sweetly  said.  But,  alas!" — and  her  face  looked 
for  a  moment  clouded, — "  thine  instinct,  or  something 
less  flattering  to  thy  queen,  led  thee  not  to,  but  from, 
my  side.  How  interpretest  thou  that  ?" 

"  I  feared  to  be  drunk  with  too  much  joy.  And  I 
longed  to  walk  apart,  lady ,  and  think  on  thee  alone 
and  in  silence." 

Ishtar  extended  her  hand  to  him  with  a  gesture  of 
1 60 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

affection.  "Thou  thinkest  ever  on  me?"  she  asked 
tenderly. 

But  ere  ever  Lemuel  could  reply,  there  -was  the 
noise  of  a  struggle  in  the  garden.  One  of  the  slaves 
of  Alorus  had  chanced  to  come  upon  the  place  where 
Elna  lay  hid,  and  now  sought  to  drag  her  forth, 
crying — 

" For  what  evil  purpose  art  thou  here?  "Why  hidest 
thou  thus  among  the  trees  of  the  garden?  Come 
forth,  I  say — come  into  the  light." 

Elna  resisted  and,  woman-like,  cried  out  as  the  slave 
laid  his  rough  hands  upon  her  delicate  flesh.  And 
Ishtar,  hearing  the  noise,  exclaimed — 

"What  was  that  cry?" 

At  this  moment,  Elna  got  free  from  the  slave  and 
rushed  towards  the  steps  of  the  terrace.  But  she  was 
stopped  by  Alorus,  who  moved  suddenly  forward  and 
intercepted  her. 

"  Let  me  pass !"  she  cried  desperately. 

"  Who  is  this  boy  ?"  said  Ishtar.  "  Hold  the  torch, 
slaves !  Who  is  he  T 

"My  slave,  Ishtar,"  said  Alorus,  coming  forward, 
still  holding  Elna  fast. 

"  Thy  slave !"  exclaimed  Lemuel.     "  Thou  liest !" 

"  Guard  thy  tongue,  Israelite  !"  said  Alorus  angrily, 
and  putting  his  hand  on  the  knife  that  hung  at  his 
girdle. 

"  She — he  is  no  slave  of  thine,"  reiterated  Lemuel, 
while  Ishtar  gazed  from  one  to  the  other  in  growing 
anger. 

"No,"  responded  Alorus,  sarcastically.  "Let  him 
11  161 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

decide.  Answer,  boy," — and  he  turned  upon  Elna, — 
"  tell  these  lords — art  thou  not  my  slave  ?" 

Then  he  whispered  to  her. 

"  Deny  it,  and  Lemuel's  death  is  sure  !" 

He  paused,  but  Elna  made  no  answer. 

"  Art  thou  not  my  slave  ?"  he  repeated,  in  a  louder 
and  more  authoritative  voice. 

Elna  cast  a  terrified  glance  towards  Lemuel.  Then 
she  said  in  a  trembling  voice — 

"  I  am  a  slave  unto  my  lord." 

"  What  doth  she  mean  ?"  said  Lemuel,  as  if  half  to 
himself. 

"  A  pretty  boy,  indeed,"  said  Ishtar  to  Alorus.  "  He 
is  new  to  me.  When  didst  thou  purchase  him  ?" 

"  Even  this  very  day,"  replied  Alorus.  "  He  is  from 
Israel,  Lemuel.  Knowest  thou  him  ?" 

And  he  pulled  at  his  pointed  and  scented  beard  and 
smiled  cruelly  as  he  spoke  the  words. 

"  I  know  not  all  Israelites,"  said  Lemuel. 

"  Strange  thou  dost  not  recognise  this  one !" 

"  Are  all  who  dwell  in  Babylon  known  to  thee  ?" 
retorted  Lemuel. 

Ishtar  had  now  sunk  down  upon  a  couch.  She 
leaned  forward  and  tapped  the  arm  of  Alorus  with  the 
great  fan  she  carried. 

"  What  demon  of  discord  hath  entered,  unbidden,  to 
my  feast  to-night  ?  Let  us  chase  him  hence.  He  loveth 
not  good  wine.  Hither!  slaves,  pass  the  wine-cup. 
Lemuel,  come  hither.  Rest  upon  this  couch  by  me." 

Lemuel  obeyed  the  command  of  Ishtar  and  reclined 
upon  the  cushions  at  her  side.  But  his  eyes  were  still 

162 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF   BABYLON 

ever  fixed  upon  Elna,  to  whom  the  Lord  Alorus  now 
said — 

"  Aye ;  and  do  thou,  Amos — that  is  thy  name,  is  it 
not  ? — do  thou  stand  by  my  side  and  wait  upon  me." 

At  these  words,  Lemuel  sprang  up  from  the  couch 
of  Ishtar,  exclaiming — 

"  Nay,  that  shall  not  be." 

"Why  not?"  asked  Ishtar,  frowning,  and  pressing 
her  white  fingers  so  closely  against  the  ebony  sticks 
of  the  fan  she  carried  that  one  of  them  broke  in  two. 
"  Why  not  ?  What !  shall  Alorus  not  choose  his  own 
slaves  ?" 

"  Yes,  lady— but " 

"  Well  ?"  demanded  Ishtar,  imperiously. 

"  'Tis  scarce  a  compliment  to  the  hostess  to  despise 
her  servitors,"  answered  Lemuel,  striving  to  control 
his  emotion. 

"  So  do  not  I,"  interrupted  Alorus,  carelessly  sprink- 
ling himself  with  essence  out  of  a  silver  bottle. 
"  But  this  boy  is  an  Israelite,  and  I  take  great  interest 
in  all  things  of  Israel.  Why,  there  was  a  dispute  but 
now  in  the  palace  between  Menanahim  and  myself  as  to 
the  punishment  of  certain  crimes  against  the  laws  of 
Israel.  Amos  shall  decide  who  was  in  the  right. 
Answer,  boy — is  it  lawful  or  no  for  a  maid  to  put  on 
man's  attire  ?" 

And  he  turned  to  Elna  and  looked  impudently  into 
her  white  face.  She  cast  down  her  eyes  and  stood  in 
silence,  trembling. 

"  Come,"  urged  Alorus,  "  surely  thou  dost  know ! 
Answer." 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  Let  me  answer,  my  lord,"  suddenly  cried  the  slave 
Sabaal,  fixing  his  piercing  and  excited  eyes  on  Lemuel. 
"  It  is  not  lawful.  And  the  woman  is  an  abomination 
in  the  sight  of  the  people." 

"I  spake  not  unto  thee,"  cried  Alorus,  pettishly. 
"  Answer  only  when  thou  art  questioned.  This  other 
thing  I,  too,  would  know.  If  a  maid  is  betrothed  unto 
one  man  and  another  take  her,  what  is  the  punishment 
for  both  ?  Thou  canst  not  be  ignorant.  Come,  an 
swer." 

"  I  will  answer,"  said  Lemuel,  moving  a  step  for- 
ward. "  The  punishment  is  death." 

Ishtar,  who  had  half  risen  on  her  couch,  leaning 
upon  one  arm,  suddenly  fell  back  on  the  cushions,  with 
a  movement  that  was  like  a  shudder.  Her  face,  always 
pale,  had  become  of  a  dusky  colour,  grey  like  the  clouds 
before  dawn.  And  her  huge  eyes  stared  like  the  eyes 
of  one  taken  by  fever. 

"  To  one  or  to  both  ?"  said  Alorus,  facing  Lemuel. 

"  To  both,"  answered  Lemuel.  "  They  shall  be  stoned 
with  stones  until  they  die." 

"I  will  no  more  of  this,"  Ishtar  cried,  sharply. 
"  Who  careth  for  these  silly  laws  of  a  captive  nation  ? 
Who  heedeth  them  ?  Pass  round  the  wine." 

And,  as  she  spoke,  she  shivered,  as  if  with  cold. 

Alorus  caught  hold  of  Elna. 

"  Amos,"  he  said,  "  do  thou  fill  thee  a  cup  and  drink 
to  thy  master  and  to  Babylon." 

And  he  bent  down  over  her  till  his  beard  touched 
against  her  delicate  cheek. 

"  That  shall  not  be !"  exclaimed  Lemuel.     "  Let  be !" 
164 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

And  seizing  Alorus  in  his  strong  hands,  he  flung  him 
away  from  Elna.  Alorus  drew  his  knife,  and,  crying, 
"  Insolent  Israelite !  Dost  thou  dare  lay  hands  upon 
me  !"  was  about  to  attack  Lemuel,  when  Ishtar,  start- 
ing up  from  her  couch,  exclaimed — 

"  What  is  this,  my  lords  ?  Come  hither,  boy.  I 
would  look  at  thee  closely." 

Elna  reluctantly  approached  Ishtar,  who  took  hold 
of  her  by  the  wrists  and  cried  to  a  slave — 

"  I  command  thee,  hold  a  torch  to  this  boy's  face." 

The  slave  obeyed,  and  Ishtar  gazed  long  and  fixedly 
into  the  face  of  Elna. 

"  Who  art  thou  ?"  she  asked,  at  length. 

"  Amos,  my  slave,"  said  Alorus,  laughing  affectedly. 
"  Servant  of  my  body." 

"  Thou  liest !"  said  Lemuel. 

Ishtar  bent  closer  to  regard  Elna,  on  whose  face  fell 
the  strong  yellow  glare  of  the  torch-flame. 

"  This  his  slave  !"  she  cried  suddenly.     "  A  woman  !" 

And  she  thrust  Elna  from  her  with  violence.  Then, 
glancing  from  Alorus  to  Lemuel,  while  her  dark  eyes 
flashed  fire,  she  exclaimed  vehemently — 

"  Ah !  now  I  understand !  Verily,  Ishtar  is  flattered 
that  men  should,  at  her  feast,  brawl  over  another 
woman !" 

She  turned  again  upon  Elna. 

"  Who  art  thou,  girl  ?"  she  demanded. 

"  I  will  tell  thee,"  said  Lemuel.  «  She  is  Elna,  of  the 
tribe  of  Zoar,  betrothed  unto  Jediah,  my  brother." 

"  What !"  exclaimed  Ishtar. 

And  on  the  word,  her  voice  rose  strangely,  in  a  sort 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

of  cry  that  startled  even  the  impassive  slaves  who 
stood  around  immovably. 

"  I  have  said,"  answered  Lemuel. 

"  Elna  of  Zoar !"  repeated  Ishtar  unevenly.  "  Be- 
trothed unto  Jediah,  thy  brother  ?" 

"  Yea,  lady,"  added  Alorus,  "  and  hither  fled  from 
Jediah  with  his  brother,  thy  favoured  shepherd — 
Lemuel." 

"  A  faithful  courtier  to  thee,  indeed,  lady,"  sneered 
Menanahim  with  a  triumphant  smile  of  bitter  satis- 
faction. 

"She  hath  not  fled  hither  with  me?"  exclaimed 
Lemuel. 

But  Ishtar  would  not  hear  him.  She  seemed  to 
tower  above  all  those  who  stood  with  her  in  her  wrath 
and  astonishment. 

"  Jediah's  betrothed  fled  to  Babylon  with  another!" 
she  cried.  "  And  that  other  thee,  O  Lemuel !  Verily, 
the  simplicity  and  virtue  of  the  plains  doth  somewhat 
confound  the  guile  and  vice  of  Babylon !" 

Then  moving  towards  Elna  with  arm  extended  as  if 
to  strike  her,  she  said  with  concentrated  fury — 

"  Oh,  cunning  Israelite !  We  are  but  children  after 
all,  we  daughters  of  Babylon !" 

At  this  moment  one  of  the  slaves  of  Alorus  darted 
up  the  white  steps  of  the  terrace,  and,  kneeling  before 
his  master,  cried — 

"  My  Lord  Alorus !" 

"  What  now  ?"  asked  Alorus. 

"  Jediah  of  Zoar  is  at  thy  gate,  craving  instant  audi- 
ence. He  bade  me  say  that  if  the  dwelling  or  abiding 

166 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

place  of  Elna  of  Zoar  be  known  unto  thee,  he  prayeth 
that  thou  wilt  direct  him  thither." 

"  Verily,  he  cometh  at  a  goodly  time,"  rejoined  Alorus. 
"What  shall  I  do,  O  Ishtar?" 

The  face  of  Ishtar  had  become  cold  and  fixed  as  the 
face  of  a  statue.  Deep  lines  were  cut  in  her  forehead ; 
and  her  eyes  glittered  with  cruel  fire. 

"  Let  Jediah  wait,"  she  said,  in  a  level  and  ringing 
voice,  each  word  of  which  was  clear,  penetrating,  and 
vibrant  in  the  night.  "  Let  him  wait  and  suffer.  Take 
thy  slave,  Alorus," — and  she  thrust  the  trembling 
Elna  towards  him, — "  she  is  thine  handmaiden  by  the 
law  of  Babylon,  to  do  with  as  thou  wilt." 

Then,  drawing  herself  up  to  her  full  height,  she 
looked  towards  Lemuel  and  exclaimed — 

"So,  simple  shepherd,  so  doth  Ishtar  deal  with 
thee." 

But  Lemuel  sprang  upon  Alorus,  crying  fiercely — 

"  Let  go,  thou  insolent  Babylonian !" 

Ishtar  clapped  her  hands  together. 

"  Guards !  hither !  hither !"  she  called  in  a  loud  voice. 
"  Protect  me  and  my  guests  against  that  traitor." 

In  answer  to  her  cry,  the  guards  of  the  palace  rushed 
forward,  flung  themselves  upon  Lemuel,  and  after  a 
short  but  sharp  struggle  held  him  fast. 

"  So,  for  the  second  time,  must  Ishtar  suffer  degra- 
dation at  the  hands  of  one  of  the  tribe  of  Zoar,"  con- 
tinued Ishtar  bitterly ;  "  but  this  time  not  with  meek- 
ness. Take  this  girl,  Alorus.  She  is  thy  slave,  thy 
chattel." 

But  Lemuel,  though  in  the  hands  of  the  guards  of 
167 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

Ishtar,  was  neither  daunted  nor  conquered.  His  noble 
face  was  heroic  with  courage  and  with  pride,  as  he  ex- 
claimed in  a  ringing  voice — 

"  At  his  body's  and  his  soul's  peril  let  him  take  her ! 
Let  but  one  hair  of  her  fair  head  be  defiled,  and  there 
is  no  guard,  no  lord,  no  prince,  no  king  that  can  save 
the  life  of  the  defiler!  Limb  from  limb  shall  he  be 
torn,  and  the  dogs  of  the  street  shall  lap  up  his  blood." 

"  No  dog  of  an  Israelite  shall  lap  up,  or  even  spill, 
the  blood  of  a  Babylonian,"  retorted  Alorus  furiously. 
"  Mongrels  that  ye  are !  Babylon  in  her  might  hath 
enslaved  Israel,  and  in  her  might  shall  crush  Israel  for 
ever  and  ever !" 

"Babylon  may  enslave  but  can  never  crush  His 
people,"  said  Lemuel. 

A  wild  light  had  come  into  his  eyes.  It  seemed  to 
shine  from  the  bright  places  of  his  soul.  It  was  like  a 
burning  fire  and  like  a  great  torch  kindled  by  the 
hands  of  the  angels.  He  stood  up  among  the  glitter- 
ing guards  of  the  stranger  like  a  hero  standing  upon  a 
throne,  or  like  a  prophet  before  an  altar.  And  raising 
his  voice  till  it  rang  through  the  night  like  unto  the 
sound  of  a  trumpet,  he  exclaimed — 

"  I  tell  ye  all  that  Israel  shall  endure  when  Babylon 
and  her  might  have  passed  away  like  a  dream  and  are 
clean  put  away  and  forgotten." 

The  Babylonians,  who  pressed  around  Lemuel,  burst 
into  a  roar  of  laughter,  and  Menanahim,  seeing  his 
rival  held  fast  and  unable  to  do  him  injury,  approached 
him,  spat  on  him  venomously,  and  cried — 

"  Thou  fool !  Babylon  forgotten !  Hear  this  cur  of 
1 68 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

Israel,  my  lords!  Hear  him,  great  lady  Ishtar!  And 
look  on  Babylon !  Look  at  her  in  her  mightiness,  the 
glory  of  kingdom,  the  beauty  of  the  Chaldeans!" 

As  he  spoke,  he  turned  to  the  terrace  wall  of  the 
garden  of  Ishtar,  and  with  a  gesture  of  dandified  ex- 
ultation, he  leaned  forth  over  the  mighty  city  which 
lay  below,  its  thousands  upon  thousands  of  lights 
gleaming  afar  in  the  night  like  a  sea  of  flame.  All 
the  Babylonians  instinctively  moved  forward.  Even 
the  guards  who  held  Lemuel  could  not  resist  the 
general  impulse.  From  this  height  the  aspect  of  the 
city  was  magnificent,  and  its  extent  seemed  endless. 
The  moonlight  shone  down  on  the  gigantic  palaces  that 
were  like  unto  towns  enclosed  within  their  solid  walls 
— on  the  temples  of  the  gods,  with  their  vast  courts 
and  their  sevenfold  towers  aspiring  towards  the  stars 
— on  the  endless  net- work  of  streets  and  gardens  and 
squares  and  plantations — on  the  great  river  Euphrates, 
on  whose  waters  swam  the  silver  moon-rays,  where 
crowded  the  ships  of  the  traders  from  all  lands  of  the 
East,  from  India,  Persia,  and  Arabia.  The  voices  of 
the  swarming  crowds  rose  up  to  the  terrace  like  music 
in  the  night ;  cries  of  children,  songs  of  sailors,  melo- 
dies of  flutes  and  of  citherns  from  the  hanging  gardens 
of  the  King,  the  beat  of  drums  from  the  soldiers' 
quarters,  the  clash  of  cymbals  from  the  houses  where 
danced  the  beautiful  girls,  the  shouts  of  those  that 
feasted,  the  laughter  of  those  that  loved.  And  the 
glory  of  the  city  and  of  its  marvellous  life,  and  of  its 
riches,  and  of  its  power,  and  of  its  joy,  seemed  to 
hang  in  the  still  air  like  a  cloud  of  incense.  Could 

169 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

this  pass  away  ?  Not  while  the  world  hung  in  the 
firmament  and  the  ocean  roared  in  the  bed  of  the 
world!  And  again,  looking  down  on  their  city  and 
on  its  magnificence,  the  Babylonians  laughed  with 
triumph  in  the  night.  But  Lemuel,  as  if  endowed 
with  supernatural  strength,  suddenly  broke  from  the 
guards  that  would  have  held  him.  He  sprang  forward 
upon  the  terrace  and,  lifting  his  arms  towards  heaven, 
he  cried  in  a  voice  that  surely  travelled  down  to  the 
multitudes  below — 

"  I  do  look  at  Babylon — but  through  the  eyes  of  the 
prophet  of  my  people — and  I  behold  her  glory  dark- 
ened, her  beauty  trampled  in  the  dust,  her  walls  thrown 
down,  her  gates  of  brass  broken.  I  see  her  become  as 
a  wilderness  where  no  man  dwelleth  but  the  wild 
beasts  of  the  desert  dwell  therein.  Her  temples  shall 
be  a  house  for  dragons,  her  courts  shall  echo  the  roar 
of  the  winds  of  the  desolate  lands.  She  shall  be  a 
city  where  no  man  walketh,  neither  do  any  son  of 
man  pass  thereby.-  No  king,  no  nation  can  oppress 
Israel's  people  and  not  be  accursed.  Thus  hath  He 
spoken,  and  what  He  ordained  shall  be.  Hearken 
unto  Him,  O  Babylon,  for  the  days  of  thy  might  are 
numbered  and  the  hour  of  thy  doom  is  at  hand !" 

As  he  spoke,  the  Babylonians  shrank  and  trembled, 
and  when  he  ceased,  there  was  a  deadly  hush.  All 
those  who  stood  around  him  looked  forth  over  the 
great  and  mighty  city  as  if  they  expected  to  see  fire 
come  down  out  of  heaven  and  consume  it  before  their 
terror-stricken  eyes.  They  listened,  as  if  for  the  voice 
of  its  wailing  and  for  the  cries  and  lamentations  of  its 

170 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

despair.  But  the  sound  of  its  music  rang  on  unaltered, 
its  myriads  of  lights  still  gleamed  along  the  plain. 
Then  fury  shook  them.  They  turned  upon  Lemuel 
almost  like  wild  beasts,  and  Menanahim  cried — 

" Strike  the  traitor  down !  Death  to  him!  Death! 
death !" 

The  guards  leaped  forward,  flashing  forth  their 
knives,  but  Ishtar  stepped  between  them  and  Lemuel, 
and,  covering  him  with  her  purple  robe,  she  cried — 

"  No ;  touch  him  not !  His  life  is  mine.  I  will  that 
he  goes  free !" 


171 


CHAPTER    X 

JEDIAH  was  consumed  with  that  passion  which  cor- 
rodeth  a  man  even  like  an  acid,  the  passion  of  jealousy. 
He  had  been  in  Babylon  now  for  some  days,  yet  he 
had  never  set  his  eyes  upon  Elna — nor  had  he  seen 
Lemuel,  for  a  strange  fear  kept  his  feet  ever  away 
from  the  mighty  palace  of  Ishtar  on  the  borders  of 
Euphrates.  Time  after  time,  indeed,  had  he  clamoured 
at  the  portals  of  the  Lord  Alorus,  but  he  had  not  yet 
been  admitted  within  the  walls  of  the  outer  precinct. 
His  heart  began  to  burn  within  him  like  fire,  and  his 
soul  was  filled  with  a  rage  which  was  ever  increasing 
upon  him.  At  night  he  could  not  sleep,  but  paced  to 
and  fro  in  his  chamber  like  an  animal  pent  within  its 
cage.  By  day  he  walked  ever  in  the  crowded  streets 
of  the  city,  scanning  the  passers-by  with  wolfish  eyes, 
and  alarming  many  of  the  women  by  his  disordered 
gait  and  by  his  savage  gestures.  He  had  encountered 
Migdapul,  the  god-seller,  and  had  inquired  of  him  the 
truth  as  to  the  famous  Ishtar.  But  Migdapul,  who 
was  devoted  to  the  service  of  the  most  powerful 
woman  in  Babylon,  and  feared  her  anger,  took  no 
heed  of  him,  but  called  him  "  cursed  dog  of  Israel," 
and  so  departed  about  other  business.  Jediah  was 
near  to  being  made  desperate.  Sometimes  he  be- 
thought him  of  his  words,  spoken  so  long  ago  to  Elna : 
"  The  deeds  that  we  do,  whether  good  or  evil,  return  to 

172 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

us  again  and  give  us  our  reward.  They  may  tarry 
long  on  their  journey,  .  .  .  but  there  surely  dawneth  a 
day  when  they  do  stand  before  us,  and  in  their  hand 
they  do  bear  the  gift, — life  for  the  good,  death  for  the 
evil." 

And  then  he  trembled  and  was  afraid.  But  ever  the 
hatred  and  jealousy  leaped  up  again  within  him,  and 
he  was  resolved  to  be  avenged  upon  Lemuel  and  upon 
his  own  betrothed. 

Meanwhile,  Elna  was  hidden  within  the  palace  of 
Alorus,  surrounded  by  immoderate  luxury  and  sick 
with  terror  of  the  future.  Alorus  dwelt  at  some  dis- 
tance from  Ishtar,  not  far  from  the  immense  palace  of 
the  king.  His  mansion,  like  those  of  the  great  lords, 
was  placed  upon  a  huge  platform  of  brick,  was  of  vast 
extent,  and  contained  every  possible  appurtenance  of 
wealth  and  beauty.  Within  the  walls  there  were 
numerous  courts,  hanging  gardens,  chambers  hung  with 
embroideries,  furniture  made  with  precious  metals, 
masses  of  jewels,  ivory,  exquisite  carpets,  rugs  and 
high  vases  in  which  flowers  bloomed,  while  fountains 
filled  the  scented  air  with  the  ripple  of  a  hushed  music. 
The  retinue  of  his  slaves  was  great,  and  he  had  guards 
as  magnificently  attired  as  the  king  himself.  Yet,  so 
far,  all  his  power,  his  luxury,  all  his  lustful  devotion, 
all  his  pomp  and  his  pride,  had  made  no  impression 
upon  the  simple  Israelitish  maiden  to  whose  fancy  he 
had  striven  to  appeal  in  every  way  that  his  passionate 
imagination  could  devise.  And  now,  in  the  afternoon  of 
one  of  the  brilliant  days  of  the  hot  and  sultry  season, 
he  dismissed  the  slaves  who  waited  in  one  of  the  halls 

173 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

of  his  palace  and  calling  unto  him  only  Sabaal,  said  to 
him — 

"  Well,  Sabaal  ?    What  tidings  ?" 

"  Nothing  will  move  her,  my  lord,"  said  Sabaal. 
"  The  maiden  is  resolute  against  my  lord's  demands. 
She  is  obdurate." 

"  She  is  a  woman,"  replied  Alorus,  glancing  at  him- 
self, with  effeminate  vanity,  in  a  square  of  shining 
copper  which  served  him  as  a  mirror.  "  And  a  wise 
one.  The  woman  who  is  not  obdurate  for  a  time  is  a 
fool." 

He  cast  himself  into  a  great  chair  hung  with  red 
silk,  leaned  himself  negligently  upon  a  marble  table, 
and  continued — 

"  Elna  is  no  fool.  But  she  is  a  woman,  and  she  will 
yield." 

"  She  is  a  daughter  of  Israel,  my  lord,  and  not  of 
Babylon,"  murmured  Sabaal,  with  a  travesty  of  modest 
submissiveness. 

"  She  is  a  daughter  of  Eve,  thou  slave,  and,  be  her 
birthplace  Babylon  or  Judea,  she  will  yield." 

"  My  lord  is  master,"  said  Sabaal,  with  a  cringing 
obeisance;  "but  his  slave  would  warn  him  against 
wronging  the  maiden  Elna.  Naught  but  evil  can  come 
to  my  lord,  if  evil  come  through  him  to  Elna." 

"Thy  lord  is  master,  indeed,"  returned  Alorus 
proudly,  "and  heeds  not  the  warnings  of  a  slave. 
Thy  lord  is  willing  to  risk  the  evil  that  may  come 
through  Elna." 

"  Yet  let  my  lord  beware "  began  Sabaal. 

But  Alorus  cut  him  short,  angrily. 

174 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Thy  lord  will  beware,"  he  said.  "  There  is  the 
whip  and  scourge  for  thee  as  for  others.  Tell  Elna 
that  thy  lord  and  hers  await  her  here.  Go !" 

Sabaal  hesitated  for  a  moment.  His  face  was  fierce 
and  forbidding,  and  his  sinewy  hands  worked  as  if  he 
longed  to  fly  at  the  throat  of  his  master.  But  with  a 
great  effort,  controlling  himself,  he  muttered.  "  So  be 
it,"  and  crept  out  of  the  hall,  going  towards  the  cham- 
ber in  which  Elna  was  confined. 

Alorus  looked  at  himself  again  in  the  mirror  with 
much  complacence.  He  stroked  his  carefully  washed 
and  scented  beard  with  his  fingers  which  were  covered 
with  enormous  rings.  Then  he  spread  abroad  his  robe 
of  white  and  gold  silk,  and  smiled  proudly. 

"  By  Baal,  but  these  Israelites  are  growing  trouble- 
some !"  he  said  to  himself.  "  They  need  more  of  the 
whip  and  scourge,  and  they  shall  have  it.  What 
now  ?"  he  said  aloud,  as  a  running  slave  entered,  and 
bent  low  at  his  feet. 

"  One  Jediah,  son  of  Zoar,  waits  thy  pleasure,  my 
lord.  He  hath  knocked  on  thy  palace  portals  many 
times  of  late." 

"Jediah!  So  let  him  wait.  And  tell  this  son  of 
Zoar  that  he  shall  know  what  is  my  pleasure  later. 
Go!" 

The  slave  vanished,  going  softly.     Alorus  muttered — 

"  Verily,  the  whole  tribe  of  Zoar  do  gather  round 
this  maiden,  Elna,  as  doth  a  hive  of  bees  about  their 
queen.  Ah !" 

He  did  not  rise  from  his  seat,  but  lay  back,  half 
closing  his  sensual  eyes  as  Elna  advanced,  bending 

175 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

down  her  blue  eyes  to  the  ground.  She  was  dressed 
in  a  rich  robe,  forced  upon  her  by  the  orders  of  Alorus. 
But  she  wore  no  trappings  or  ornaments.  After  stand- 
ing before  Alorus  for  a  moment  in  silence,  she  said,  in 
a  low  and  scarcely  audible  voice — 

"  What  would  you  with  me  ?" 

Alorus  raised  himself  upon  the  chair  and  leaned 
forward  towards  her,  running  his  bold  eyes  over  her 
fair  form  with  admiration. 

"A  goodly  sight,  indeed!"  he  said.  "A  fairer  one 
could  not  be  found  in  Babylon." 

"  What  would  you  with  me  ?"  asked  Elna  again. 

"  Where  are  the  jewels  that  I  did  leave  for  thee  ?" 
said  Alorus. 

"  Where  thou  did'st  leave  them,"  she  answered, 
pointing  to  a  large  golden  casket  which  stood  on  a 
table  at  a  little  distance. 

Alorus  rose  up,  went  to  the  table  and  opened  the  casket. 

"  Untouched !"  he  exclaimed. 

"Yea." 

"And  unlocked  upon?"  he  asked,  curiously. 

"  And  unlocked  upon." 

He  put  his  hand  into  the  casket  and  drew  forth  a 
great  chain  of  emeralds. 

"  Look  upon  them  now  ?"  he  said,  holding  them  up  in 
the  sunlight  till  they  shone  and  glittered  like  things 
alive.  "  See,  here  are  jewels  that  might  have  decked 
Sheba's  fair  queen — rubies  beyond  price — amethysts 
a  Pharaoh  might  envy." 

He  advanced  a  step  towards  her,  holding  the  chain 
of  emeralds  still  in  his  hands. 

I76 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Let  me  clasp  this  round  thy  neck,"  he  said,  coax- 
ingly,  and  assuming  a  conquering  look  which  he 
thought  irresistible. 

But  Elna  moved  back  from  him. 

"  No,"  she  said,  quietly.  "  I  want  not  thy  jewels. 
This  robe  I  wear  until  I  am  free  to  replace  it  with  one 
that  more  befits  my  race  and  needs.  Only  one  other 
thing  will  I  take  at  thy  hands." 

"  "What  is  that,  fair  Israelite  ?"  cried  Alorus. 

"My  liberty,"  said  Elna,  proudly.  "How  darest 
thou  withhold  it?" 

"Dare!"  exclaimed  Alorus,  bursting  into  a  fit  of 
laughter.  "Dare!  Knowest  thou  that  thou  art  my 
slave  ?" 

"  I  am  not  thy  slave,"  she  answered  with  contempt. 
"And  I  demand  my  freedom.  Justice!  Justice! 
There  must  be  laws  in  Babylon,  even  for  the  daughters 
of  Israel." 

"  There  are  laws  in  Babylon,  fair  Elna,  especially 
for  the  daughters  of  Israel — laws  that  make  their  mas- 
ters masters  indeed.  Thou  art  my  slave — by  thine 
own  admission — slave  to  do  my  bidding,  be  that  bid- 
ding what  it  may.  Slave  to  toil  and  spin,  to  wait  my 
word,  or  beck,  or  nod — to  come  and  go  how  and 
whence  I  will." 

And,  as  he  spoke,  he  came  towards  her,  stretching 
forth  his  hands.  Elna  retreated  before  him. 

"  Thou  art  a  man,  at  least,"  she  said,  "  even  though 
a  Babylonian — and  wilt  not  wrong  thy  manhood." 

"  Nay,  fair  Israelite,"  returned  Alorus,  "  since  first  I 
saw  thee  in  the  tents  of  Zoar,  I  loved  thee." 

177 


THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

"  Loved  me !"  cried  Elna,  with  bitter  scorn. 

"  "Well,  desired  thee,  then — if  thou  wilt  have  it  so. 
Be  wise.  Force  me  not  to  use  my  power  rather  than 
to  yield  to  thine.  There  is  naught  that  I  cannot  give 
thee  out  of  my  wealth — nothing  that  the  heart  of 
woman  can  desire  shall  be  denied  thee.  Thou  shalt  be 
envied — aye,  even  by  Ishtar,  herself." 

"  Ishtar  !"  cried  Elna, — and,  on  the  word,  she  ran  to 
the  window  that  looked  out  from  a  great  height,  on  to 
the  court  of  the  palace.  "Ishtar!  Kather  than  be 
like  unto  her,  I  would  be  as  the  leper  without  the 


And  she  pointed  forth  towards  the  beggars  who  sat 
for  ever  at  the  palace  portals  in  hope  of  alms. 

"  I  love  !"  she  said.  "  I  love  ! — but  I  love  not  thee. 
He  whom  I  love  loves  me,  and  such  as  I  am — body, 
mind,  heart,  soul  are  his  and  only  his.  I  risked  my 
life  leaving  him  to  whom  I  was  betrothed.  I  would  risk 
that  life  again  and  again  to  keep  myself  unstained  and 
true  to  him  I  love.  Let  that  suffice — and  let  me  go." 

"No!"  exclaimed  Alorus,  fiercely.  "Sooner  than 
loose  thee,  I  would  lose  my  life." 

And  he  sprang  impetuously  towards  Elna.  But  two 
strong  hands  caught  him  suddenly  by  the  throat  and 
forced  him  backward,  while  a  voice  said  sternly — 

"  Take  heed  lest  both  be  lost." 

"  Lemuel !"  cried  Elna,  joyfully. 

"My  guard!"  gasped  Alorus,  struggling  violently  to 
release  himself  from  Lemuel.  "  My  guard  !" 

"Thy  guard!"  said  Lemuel.  "Can  it  be  that  the 
mighty  Alorus  is  afraid  ?" 

I78 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

And,  as  he  spoke,  he  released  him  with  a  gesture 
of  scorn.  Alorus  stood  still  for  a  moment,  panting  for 
breath  and  supporting  himself  against  a  huge  vase  of 
bronze  that  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  hall. 

"  Afraid !"  he  said,  at  last.     «  Why  art  thou  here  ?" 

"  Can'st  thou  ask  ?" 

11  Yea ;  this  is  my  house.  It  is  the  custom  of  Baby- 
lon to " 

"  I  know  but  little  of  the  customs  of  Babylon,"  said 
Lemuel,  scornfully. 

"True,  shepherd — and  heed  even  less  the  customs 
of  Israel." 

"  It  is  the  custom  of  Israel  to  protect  the  honour  of 
her  daughters." 

"  And  the  law  to  slay  their  seducers,"  retorted  Alorus. 

As  he  spoke,  Elna  made  a  movement  towards  Lemuel, 
as  if  instinctively  she  sought  to  protect  him. 

"Even  so,"  said  Lemuel.  "I  do  not  seek  to  deny 
it." 

"  Then  is  thy  life  forfeit  unto  Israel's  law." 

"That  shall  be  as  Israel's  judges  shall  decide." 

"  Of  whom  thy  brother,  Jediah,  is  one,"  said  Alorus, 
casting  a  malignant  glance  on  Elna. 

"  Yea,'*  said  Lemuel. 

And  he,  too,  gazed  towards  Elna,  with  a  depth  of 
pity  and  suffering  in  his  eyes.  Alorus  hesitated.  A 
keen  struggle  was  going  on  within  his  soul,  a  struggle 
between  the  evil  and  the  good.  He  was  not,  by  nature, 
entirely  wicked,  but  he  had  been  coarsened  and  cor- 
rupted by  the  foul  life  of  Babylon,  and  his  better  self 
had  been  thrust  down  into  the  depths  and  scarcely 

179 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

allowed  to  look  ever  upon  the  light.  And  he  desired 
Elna  with  all  his  body.  At  last  he  said,  slowly — 

"  Lemuel,  I  have  no  quarrel  with  thee.  Go  hence  in 
peace." 

"  Not  without  this  maid.     If  I  go,  she  goeth,  too." 

"  This  maid  is  my  slave,"  said  Alorus. 

"  She  is  no  slave.  For  her  and  for  all  the  house 
of  Zoar  tribute  hath  been  paid.  She  is  no  more  thy 
slave  than  am  I.  She  is  here  against  her  will.  Is 
not  that  so,  Elna  ?  Speak !" 

"  Yea,  my  lord,"  said  Elna,  moving  a  step  nearer  to 
Lemuel. 

"  And  it  is  thy  desire  that  thou  should' st  go  hence 
with  me  ?" 

"  Such  is  my  desire." 

The  dark  cloud  came  again  upon  the  face  of 
Alorus. 

"  One  moment,  Israelite,"  he  said.  "  That  it  may  not 
ever  be  charged  upon  me  that  I  willingly  resigned  the 
custody  of  my  slave,  let  me,  at  least,  have  a  witness 
present  who  will  testify  for  me  hereafter." 

"  To  that  I  agree,"  answered  Lemuel. 

Alorus  smiled  and  struck  a  silver  gong.  A  slave 
appeared. 

"That  lord  who  waited  for  me  but  now,"  said 
Alorus,  "  waits  he  still  ?" 

"  Yea,  my  lord,"  said  the  slave. 

"  Bid  him  como  hither." 

The  slave  made  a  low  obeisance  and  departed. 
Alorus  strode  across  the  hall  to  a  doorway  over  which 
was  hung  a  heavy  rose-coloured  curtain.  Holding  the 

1 80 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

curtain  up  with  one  hand,  he  turned  to  Lemuel  and 
said — 

"  Lemuel,  I  have  no  wish  to  harm  thee.  Even  now 
thou  may'st  go  in  peace  if  thou  wilt.  Even  for  thine 
own  good,  I  beseech  thee  to  go." 

"And  I  tell  thee,"  answered  Lemuel,  firmly,  "that 
unless  this  maid  do  go  with  me,  I  will  not  go." 

Alorus  let  the  curtain  fall.  His  face  had  again 
become  hard  and  cruel. 

"  Then  there  is  naught  left  for  me  but  to  call  my 
witness  hither,"  he  said. 

Going  to  another  door,  he  cried  in  a  loud  voice— 

"  Jediah,  son  of  Zoar,  enter !" 

On  hearing  his  words,  Elna  uttered  a  cry  of  terror. 
And  when  the  wild  and  disordered  figure  of  Jediah 
appeared  in  answer  to  the  summons  of  Alorus,  she 
shrieked — 

"  Jediah !  Oh,  Lemuel,  save  me  I"  and  clung  to  him 
for  protection. 

Jediah,  whose  face  was  pale  as  death,  and  whose  eyes 
glittered  like  burning  coals  of  fire,  came  forward  slowly. 
He  looked  upon  Elna  and  upon  Lemuel.  Then  raising 
his  hands  on  high,  he  said — 

"Found!  And  together!  God  of  my  fathers,  I 
thank  thee!" 

He  dropped  his  hands  and  stood  in  silence.  But  his 
terrible  eyes  never  left  Elna  and  Lemuel. 

"  Welcome,  Jediah,"  said  Alorus,  with  a  jaunty  affec- 
tation of  geniality.  "  Welcome.  As  thou  seest,  thy 
brother  is  here  before  thee." 

"  So  I  perceive,  my  lord,"  answered  Jediah. 
181 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  And  this  maiden,  too,  is  kith  of  thine,  is  she  not  ?" 

"  She  is  my  betrothed  wife,  my  lord,"  answered 
Jediah,  with  exceeding  great  bitterness. 

"  Aye.  So  thou  did'st  tell  me  when  last  I  saw  thee. 
This  is  a  happy  meeting,  indeed  I" 

"A  meeting  that  I  have  desired,"  said  Jediah. 
"  Indeed,  it  was  to  ask  my  lord  to  aid  me  in  my  search 
for  this  maiden  that  I  came  hither." 

"What  would' st  thou  with  me — and  Elna?"  asked 
Lemuel,  proudly. 

"  I  do  desire  that  thou — and  this  woman — do  return 
with  me — home,"  said  Jediah,  clinching  his  hands 
together. 

"  For  what  purpose  ?"  asked  Lemuel. 

"  Can'st  thou  not  guess  ?"  said  Jediah,  still  in  the 
same  cold  and  deadly  voice. 

"Knowing  thee,  my  brother,"  replied  Lemuel,  "it 
is  not  hard  to  guess.  It  is  well  that  thou  hast  come ; 
I  must  indeed  speak  with  thee." 

He  turned  to  Alorus. 

"  "What  I  would  say  concerns  not  thee,  my  lord,"  he 
added,  "  so,  by  thy  leave,  we  will  withdraw." 

"Thou  hast  my  leave  to  go,"  said  Alorus. 

"  Come,  Elna,"  said  Lemuel. 

"  Ah,  no !"  interposed  Alorus,  "  I  said  thou — but  not 
this  maiden." 

Lemuel's  face  was,  for  a  moment,  contorted  with 
contempt  and  anger.  But  he  quickly  controlled  him- 
self, and  said  to  his  brother — 

"  Brother,  this  man — thy  friend — doth  claim  Elna  as 
his  slave." 

182 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"Slave!"  exclaimed  Jediah.  "His  slave!  What! 
"Weary  of  thee,  too!  And  so  soon!  She  is  not  slow, 
being  in  Babylon,  to  catch  the  Babylonian  way." 

"Brother!"  retorted  Lemuel,  with  difficulty  re- 
straining his  rising  anger,  "thou  hast  been  seemingly 
wronged,  and  thy  wrath,  perhaps,  is  just.  But  those 
words  are  cruelly  unjust,  and  thou  dost  know  it." 

"Unjust?  To  whom?"  said  Jediah.  "To  the 
wantons  of  Babylon  ?  If  any  suffer  by  the  compari- 
son, surely  it  is  they.  They  make  no  pretence,  at 
least,  but  ply  their  trade  openly,  and  all  do  know  it  is 
their  trade:  but  this  woman  acts  the  virtuous  maid, 
and  recking  nothing  of  honour,  love,  wounded  hearts, 
or  broken  lives,  doth  covertly,  and  with  the  guile  of 
the  serpent,  steal  from  one  man's  arms  unto  another's. 
The  traitress !  the " 

"  Stop !"  exclaimed  Lemuel. 

He,  as  Jediah,  was  white  with  wrath.  But  he  did 
not  lose  his  self-control,  although  he  clinched  his  hands 
together  in  his  robe  and  his  eyes  shone  with  anger. 

"  Stop !  Not  even  from  thee  will  I  hear  one  word  of 
slander  against  this  maid,  who  is  as  pure  as  when  she 
left  our  tents,  as  when  she  left  her  mother's  knee. 
Wrong  is  she  in  that  she  forsook  thee  and  her  people 
to  come  to  this  false  city,  but,  on  my  life,  her  sin  ends 
there." 

"  That  shall  be  judged  by  Israel,"  said  Jediah,  trem- 
bling with  passion.  "  By  Israel  and  by  Israel's  law." 

"  She  hath  sinned  against  thee — indeed,  against  her- 
self— but  against  no  law  of  Israel,"  returned  Lemuel. 

"  Israel  shall  determine  that,  and  shall  judge  thee," 

183 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

said  Jediah,  "  thou  renegade  from  faith  and  trust  and 
kin!  Come  both  of  ye  to  the  home  ye  have  out- 
raged." 

He  made  a  step  forward  and  stretched  out  his  arm 
as  if  he  would  drag  Elna  from  the  palace  of  Alorus. 
But  Lemuel  placed  himself  by  the  maiden's  side. 

"I  have  no  fear,"  he  said.  "Elna,  what  sayest 
thou  ?" 

"  I  hither  came  to  Babylon  to  seek  the  man  I  do 
love,"  she  answered  bravely.  "  His  command  and 
naught  but  his  command  in  all  this  world  can  send  me 
home  again.  And  not  even  at  his  bidding  will  I  give 
myself  unto  another.  I  have  said." 

And  she  looked  up  into  Lemuel's  face  with  exulta- 
tion, as  if  in  this  confession  she  released  her  soul  from 
bondage. 

"  Thou  hast  heard,  Jediah,  my  brother,"  said  Lem- 
uel. "Wilt  thou  still  hold  her  to  a  bond  so  hate- 
ful?" 

"  Yea,"  cried  Jediah,  furiously,  almost  as  a  man 
taken  by  a  fit.  "  Yea,  until  the  law  hath  done  me 
justice.  Justice !  I  call  for  justice !  Justice  on  the 
adulterer  and  the  adultress!  Justice  and  the  law! 
Death— death  to  both !" 

"  Who  is  it  calls  so  loudly  for  truth  and  justice  ?" 
said  a  woman's  voice. 

Jediah  started  violently  and  laid  his  hand  on  the 
marble  table  by  which  he  stood,  as  if  he  sought  for 
support.  Alorus,  who  had  been  watching  the  previous 
scene  with  an  interest  he  did  not  attempt  to  disguise, 
turned  hastily  and  bent  low  as  if  before  a  queen.  Elna 

184 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

and  Lemuel,  side  by  side,  did  not  move,  but  waited 
calmly,  as  if  bravely  prepared  for  any  fate.  And 
Ishtar,  whose  voice  it  was  that  had  spoken,  came  for- 
ward slowly,  till  she  stood  in  the  midst  of  the  hall. 

"  Who  is  it  calls  so  loudly  ?"  she  repeated.  "  Can  it  be 
Jediah,  son  of  Zoar?" 

"Elcia!"  whispered  Jediah,  under  his  breath. 

Ishtar  smiled  coldly. 

"  Elcia !"  she  said.  "  Nay,  Ishtar— Ishtar  of  Baby- 
lon. Is  it  possible  that  Ishtar,  whose  name  is  known 
throughout  all  the  world,  can  be  unknown  to  Jediah  ?" 

"  Ishtar — I — I "  stammered  Jediah,  with  white 

lips. 

"  I  am  Ishtar,"  she  replied.     "  Look  on  me." 

In  one  hand  she  held  her  long  veil  of  white  Indian 
muslin,  and  she  stood,  straight  and  tall  as  a  queen, 
facing  this  man  who  cowered  before  her,  as  if  he  would 
fain  have  sunk  down  into  the  ground. 

"But  thou,  Jediah,  did'st  call  for  'justice  and  the 
law.'  Who  in  this  company  hath  outraged  the  law  ?" 

Jediah  drew  his  breath  huskily.  He  pointed,  with  a 
shaking  hand,  to  Lemuel  and  to  Elna. 

"  That  man — and  that — woman,"  he  said,  hoarsely. 

Ishtar  gazed  fixedly  at  Elna. 

"  What  is  this  maid  to  thee,  Jediah  ?"  she  asked. 

"  My  betrothed  wife,"  he  answered,  casting  down  his 
fierce  eyes  before  her  glance. 

Ishtar  burst  into  a  peal  of  laughter  and  sank  down 
upon  a  couch 

"  Forgive  me,  Alorus !"  she  exclaimed.  "  Nay,  for- 
give me !  But — but  Jediah's  betrothed  wife  a  fugitive  ! 

185 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

Jediah's  betrothed  wife  flying  from  his  arms  to  seek  her 
love  in  Babylon  !     How  strange  !     How  very  strange !" 

She  suddenly  rose  up  again,  and,  addressing  Lemuel, 
said  more  gravely — 

"  And  art  thou — thou,  the  stern,  unyielding  Lemuel 
— the  guilty  one?" 

"  There  is  no  guilt  here,  lady,"  said  Lemuel,  calmly. 
"  This  maid  hath  been  impetuous,  thoughtless,  perchance 
— but  she  is,  as  I  am,  innocent  of  the  sin  my  brother 
hath  charged  upon  us." 

"  Innocent !"  cried  Jediah,  passionately.  "  A  lie ! 
She  and  thou  alike  do  lie.  Ye  are  guilty  both.  Think 
not  to  deceive  me!" 

"  No,"  said  Ishtar,  turning  upon  him ;  "  thou  must 
know  too  well  the  ways  of  those  charged  with  such  a 
sin — being  a  Judge  in  Israel — to  be  misled." 

Jediah  ground  his  teeth  together.  By  his  wild  bear- 
ing and  contorted  features  it  was  easy  to  see  that  pas- 
sion was  driving  him  on  towards  the  confines  of  mad- 
ness. 

"  These  twain  must  come  with  me,"  he  exclaimed  in 
a  choked  voice. 

"This  maiden  shall  not  go  with  thee  against  her 
will,"  said  Lemuel.  "  She  shall  not  while  I  have  life." 

"No,  by  Baal  I"  cried  Alorus,  "  nor  with  thee,  either, 
thou  simple  shepherd,  while  there  is  law  in  Babylon." 

Even  as  he  spoke  there  was  a  clash  of  arms  without, 
the  curtain  that  hung  over  the  great  entrance  door 
was  thrust  roughly  aside,  and  a  guard  of  soldiers 
entered,  led  by  an  officer  of  the  king's  palace. 

"  What  means  this  intrusion  ?"  said  Alorus. 
1 86 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

The  officer  signed  to  him  to  be  silent,  and  looking 
around  him,  said  to  Lemuel — 

"  Art  thou  Lemuel,  son  of  Zoar?" 

"  I  am,"  said  Lemuel. 

The  officer  turned  to  Elna. 

"  And  thou,  art  thou  Elna,  the  Israelite  ?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Elna. 

"  My  lord  the  king,  may  he  live  for  ever :  his  signet 
and  his  mandate.  It  is  the  will  of  my  lord  the  king 
that  these  two  be  cast  into  prison." 

Alorus,  Ishtar,  and  the  Babylonians  inclined  their 
heads  at  the  mention  of  the  king's  name.  But  Lem- 
uel said  quietly,  and  facing  the  soldiers  unflinchingly — 

"  For  what  crime  ?" 

"  For  treason,"  replied  the  officer.  "  It  is  bruited 
abroad  through  all  the  city  that  thou  hast  foretold  the 
destruction  of  Babylon,  the  destruction  of  our  mighty 
lord  the  king." 

"But  this  maid  is  innocent,"  responded  Lemuel. 
"Arrest  me,  if  thou  wilt,  but  let  her  go." 

"  The  king's  command  is  that  I  deliver  both  into  his 
hands,"  said  the  officer.  "  His  will  is  my  law." 

And  at  a  sign  from  him  the  soldiers  surrounded  Elna 
and  Lemuel. 

Suddenly  Lemuel  put  his  hands  to  his  breast.  He 
had  thought  of  the  precious  cylinder  confided  to  him 
by  the  blind  man,  Johanan.  In  it  were  the  names  and 
abodes  of  all  the  brethren  who  were  working  for  the 
freedom  of  Israel.  These  must  not  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  king,  or  all  would  be  lost.  In  a  moment  his 
resolution  was  taken. 

187 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Ere  I  go,"  he  said  to  the  officer,  "  I  would  speak 
with  the  Lady  Ishtar." 

The  officer  hesitated. 

"  What  desirest  thou "  he  began. 

But  Ishtar  stepped  forward  and  said  authorita- 
tively— 

"  I  will  be  answerable  unto  my  lord  the  king.  Let 
this  man  speak  to  me." 

"  Alone,"  said  Lemuel  firmly. 

"  Stand  apart,"  said  Ishtar. 

The  officer,  awed  by  her  beauty,  instinctively  obeyed 
her  commands.  The  soldiers,  at  his  order,  stood  back. 
Alorus  moved  away,  wondering.  Then  Ishtar  said 
softly  to  Lemuel — 

"  What  would'st  thou,  Lemuel  ?" 

"Lady,"  he  answered,  "wilt  thou  do  me  a  great 
service  in  mine  hour  of  need  ?" 

"  Teach  me  how,"  she  replied  earnestly. 

He  touched  his  breast. 

"  I  have  here  a  cylinder,"  he  said.  "  On  it  are  the 
names  of  many  of  my  brethren,  whose  lives  are  forfeit 
if  it  be  seen.  I  shall  be  searched,  this  tablet  found. 
For  their  sakes  take  it  from  me  and  destroy  it." 

"  But  this  is  treason  unto  the  king,"  she  answered. 

"  I  await  my  prisoner,  lady,"  the  officer  cried. 

"  By  thy  love  for  me  1"  whispered  Lemuel. 

Ishtar  stood  in  silence.     Then  she  murmured — 

"  Give  me  the  tablet." 

Lemuel  bent  low  as  if  to  kiss  her  hand.  As  he  did 
so  Ishtar  drew  the  cylinder  from  his  bosom  and  had  it 
in  her  own. 

1 88 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

The  guards  again  surrounded  Elna  and  Lemuel. 
Jediah  stood  watching,  silently.  He  seemed  ex- 
hausted with  passion,  and  his  cruel  face  was  as  if  cut 
in  stone. 

Lemuel  put  his  hand  on  Elna's. 

"  Be  comforted,  Elna,"  he  said.  "  Thou  art  innocent. 
No  harm  shall  come  to  thee." 

"  I  have  no  fear,"  she  answered,  "  so  thy  fate  be 
mine." 

Lemuel's  hand  closed  on  hers  more  firmly.  Then 
turning  to  the  officer  he  said — 

"  Sir,  I  am  ready !" 

There  was  a  clash  of  steel,  a  crash  of  marching  feet, 
then  Ishtar  and  Alorus  stood  alone  in  the  palace  hall. 

Jediah  had  slunk  away  without  a  word. 


189 


CHAPTER    XI 

THE  great  dungeons  of  Babylon  lay  over  against  the 
eastern  wall  of  the  city,  and  were  of  vast  extent  and 
of  immense  solidity.  Within  their  confines  were  courts 
in  which  the  more  favoured  of  the  prisoners  took  ex- 
ercise, dwellers  for  the  numerous  jailers,  and  endless 
rows  of  tiny  cells,  guarded  by  stout  doors  provided 
with  locks  and  bars  and  pierced  by  small  gratings 
through  which  but  little  light  and  air  could  enter.  To 
this  gloomy  abode  of  crime  and  misery,  of  tyranny 
and  torture,  Elna  and  Lemuel  were  now  to  be  con- 
ducted by  order  of  the  great  king  of  Babylon.  Two 
or  three  of  the  jailers,  Babylonians  of  the  lowest 
order,  uncouth,  unkempt,  dissipated  and  drunken,  were 
already  gathered  together  in  the  outer  court  of  the 
prison,  awaiting  the  entry  of  the  latest  captives  who 
had  fallen  under  the  displeasure  of  the  tyrant  who  sat 
upon  the  throne.  They  rested  upon  a  bench  of  stone, 
and  drank  copious  draughts  of  a  cheap  sort  of  beer 
much  loved  by  the  people  of  the  lower  orders.  And 
while  they  drank  they  gossiped  as  ever  of  the  wretched 
prisoners  in  their  charge,  and  of  those  likely  to  be 
brought  to  the  dungeons  in  the  near  future.  Said  one, 
lifting  his  head,  on  which  the  rough  hair  grew  long, 
from  the  cup  of  metal  to  which  he  had  just  been 
putting  his  thick  lips — 

"  Here's  a  goodly  lot  come  in  of  late !  Some  for  the 
190 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

sword,  some  for  the  fiery  furnace.  Thieves,  murderers, 
and  they  that  do  refuse  to  worship  the  golden  image 
our  lord  the  king  hath  provided.  Of  a  surety  some 
are  hard  to  please !  Had  they  been  asked  to  bow  the 
knee  to  an  image  of  common  clay,  now — but  to  one 
of  gold!  Of  a  height  of  threescore  cubits  and  a 
breadth  of  six  cubits,  and  sweet  music  prepared  for 
them,  too !  Bah !  what  can  they  want  ?" 

"  The  great  god  Bel  alone  knows,"  returned  another. 
"  But  why  do  these  men  refuse  to  worship  the  golden 
image  ?" 

The  first  jailer  shook  his  head,  and  a  clumsy  and 
puzzled  expression  came  over  his  red  face. 

"  Why  ?"  he  ejaculated.  "  Eh,  why  ?  Well,  because 
— because  they  are  Israelites.  Why  else?" 

"  Is  that  a  reason  ?"  said  his  companion. 

"  Eeason  enough.    They're  a  stiff-necked  race." 

."  If  they  be  stiff-necked  and  cannot  bend,  then  let 
them  burn,  I  say." 

The  other  burst  out  into  a  harsh  laugh. 

"  Burn !  Yea,  frizzle — so  we  be  rid  of  them  and  get 
some  peace." 

He  took  another  long  draught  from  the  cup,  smacked 
his  lips,  and  passed  his  hand  across  them. 

"  If  our  lord  the  king "  he  began. 

But  just  then  there  was  a  loud  knocking  at  the 
prison  portals.  The  jailer  started  up. 

"  Here  be  more  of  them !"  he  cried.  "  Ugh !  there 
is  no  peace  here." 

He  shuffled  off  to  unlock  the  gate.  A  guard  of 
soldiers  entered,  conducting  Elna  and  Lemuel. 

191 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

"  Lock  these  two  prisoners  in  here,  and  come  thou 
with  me,"  said  the  officer  of  the  king.  "  The  governor 
will  instruct  thee  further  concerning  them." 

"But  who  are  they?"  asked  the  jailer,  gazing  in 
staring  surprise  at  the  lovely  white  face  of  Elna  and  at 
the  noble  figure  and  heroic  bearing  of  Lemuel.  "  For 
what  crime  against  the  king  are  they  come  hither  ?" 

"I  will  tell  thee,"  said  the  officer,  and  he  walked 
apart  for  a  moment  with  the  jailer,  leaving  Elna  and 
Lemuel  together.  For  the  soldiers  had  fallen  out  of 
their  ranks,  and  had  departed  to  their  quarters  after 
conducting  the  prisoners  within  the  court  of  the  dun- 
geon. Only  two  men  remained  on  guard  at  the  great 
door  which  opened  onto  the  street  of  the  city.  Elna, 
almost  overcome  with  grief  and  terror,  stood  with  her 
beautiful  head  drooping,  while  tears  that  she  strove  in 
vain  to  repress  coursed  down  her  white  cheeks.  Lem- 
uel looked  upon  her  with  a  passion  of  pity. 

"  Nay,  Elna,"  he  said  to  her  gently,  "  weep  not.  Thou 
wilt  not  falter !  Thou  hast  been  so  brave  until  now." 

"  Yea,  my  beloved,"  she  answered  through  her  tears, 
"  for  until  now  my  heart  was  filled  ever  with  the  hope 
of  finding  thee,  and  that  hope  strengthened  me.  I 
found  thee  at  last,  light  of  my  soul,  and  darkness  fell 
from  me  as  night  flieth  before  the  sun.  But  now  that 
I  must  lose  thee  again,  and  may  not  have  for  my  solace 
even  the  pleasant  pain  of  seeking  thee,  my  heart  faileth 
me  indeed,  and  my  courage  is  wellnigh  gone." 

"  Nay,  Elna,"  said  Lemuel,  drawing  a  little  closer  to 
her,  and  glancing  towards  the  two  sentries,  who  stood 
immovable  at  their  posts.  "  If  thou  hast  been  spared 

192 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

until  now,  thou  wilt  not  be  cast  down  for  ever.  There 
is  a  great  might  in  love— more  strength  therein  than 
in  the  swords  of  thousands,  yea,  even  though  they  be 
wielded  by  the  mightiest  of  the  men  of  battle.  Let 
our  love  uplift  thee,  oh  my  beloved.  Beyond  these 
walls,  Elna — look,  I  see  a  land  of  plenty!" 

As  he  spoke,  that  strange  light  of  enthusiasm,  which 
had  so  moved  even  the  indifferent  Babylonians  gath- 
ered in  the  palace  garden  of  Ishtar,  flamed  up  once 
more  in  his  eyes.  And  he  seemed  to  see  a  vision  afar 
off. 

"  I  see  a  land  of  green  pastures  and  pleasant  vine- 
yards, girt  about  with  cedars  and  sweet-smelling  trees 
— sweeter  even  than  those  of  Lebanon — and  orchards 
of  ripe  fruit,  and  gardens  of  bright  flowers,  and  foun- 
tains of  clear  water.  And  the  land  is  rich  with  har- 
vests, with  flocks  and  herds.  And,  Elna — listen !  There 
is  one  who  goeth  down  among  her  maidens  to  water 
the  lambs  and  the  young  goats ;  and  behold !  though 
her  hair  is  white,  and  she  is  well  stricken  in  years,  and 
her  children  and  her  children's  children  are  with  her 
and  about  her,  she  is  upright,  and  her  foot  is  fleet  still 
as  the  young  fawn's,  and  her  eyes  are  bright  like  twin 
stars  in  a  dark  sky.  And  there  is  one  who  standeth  at 
the  door  of  his  tent,  and  although  he  too  is  old  the  love- 
light  is  in  his  eyes  as  he  watcheth  his  spouse ;  and,  for 
all  his  years,  I  know  him  !  It  is  Lemuel — thy  Lemuel, 
oh  soul  of  my  soul ! — faithful  and  true  unto  thee,  as  he 
was  and  as  he  will  be  unto  the  end  of  time  and  the 
coming  of  the  eternal!" 

"  Dost  thou  indeed  see  this  vision  ?"  she  whispered. 

13  193 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

And  her  face  was  transformed,  as  if  she  walked  in 
the  midst  of  a  great  light. 

"  Indeed  and  indeed,"  he  murmured.  "  And  there  is 
no  poison  here,  for  our  life  is  yonder.  Nor  can  these 
walls  divide  us," — and  he  pointed  towards  the  gloomy 
cells, — "  for  our  hearts  and  souls  are  one." 

As  he  ceased  to  speak,  and  she  turned  towards  him 
with  a  radiant  gesture  of  courage  and  of  confidence, 
the  jailer  returned  from  speaking  with  the  officer. 

"  Come  hither,  maiden !"  he  cried  roughly.  "  Thou 
shalt  soon  be  where  no  man  can  see  thy  bright  eyes 
and  thy  tender  cheeks." 

And,  so  saying,  he  seized  her  brutally  by  the  arm, 
and  led  her  away  to  one  of  the  cells.  She  made  no 
resistance.  Only,  as  she  turned  to  go,  she  cast  one 
look  of  trust  upon  Lemuel.  Her  courage  had  returned 
to  her.  She  was  no  longer  fearful.  She  looked  beyond 
the  present,  and  Lemuel's  bravery  renewed  hers. 

The  heavy  door  of  the  cell  closed  upon  her,  and 
Lemuel  stood  alone. 

"And  now,  come  thou  with  me,"  said  the  jailer, 
returning.  "Thou  shalt  have  no  further  commerce 
with  thy  fair  maiden.  Here  wilt  thou  lie,  in  this 
chamber,  and  other  garments  shall  be  found  for  thee 
and  for  thy  companion." 

As  he  spoke  he  unbarred  the  door  of  a  low  and 
filthy  prison-cell,  and  signed  unto  Lemuel  to  enter. 
The  cell  was  full  of  black  darkness,  and  ere  Lemuel 
obeyed  the  jailer's  command,  he  turned  his  eyes  once 
more  to  the  light  of  the  sun  and  to  the  fair  beauty  of 
the  clear  blue  sky.  Then  he  moved  to  cross  the  lintel 

194 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

of  the  cell-door ;  but,  even  as  he  did  so,  the  great  por- 
tals of  the  prison  opened,  and  a  company  of  the  king's 
guards  entered,  followed  by  a  woman  whose  face  was 
covered  by  a  long  white  veil. 

"  Who  art  thou  ?"  exclaimed  the  jailer,  with  his  hand 
laid  still  upon  the  door. 

The  woman,  advancing  quickly  towards  him,  threw 
back  her  veil,  and  showed  the  face  of  Ishtar. 

"  Stay !"  she  cried.  "  I  have  the  king's  authority  to 
speak  with  thy  prisoner,  and  alone." 

"  What  ?"  said  the  jailer,  in  perplexity.  "  Thou  tell- 
est  me  that " 

"  Kead  and  obey,"  said  Ishtar  imperiously. 

And  she  held  forth  to  him  a  tablet,  on  which  was 
inscribed  the  mandate  of  the  king. 

"  The  king's  seal !"  exclaimed  the  jailer. 

He  bowed  low. 

"Lady,  I  obey,"  he  said,  with  a  meek  servility 
strangely  unlike  to  his  former  rough  and  arbitrary 
brutality. 

Then  he  retired,  followed  by  the  guards,  leaving 
Ishtar  alone  with  Lemuel.  She  stood  in  silence  for  a 
moment.  Then  she  advanced  towards  him,  and,  with 
a  gesture  almost  of  pleading,  she  said — 

"Lemuel!" 

"Lady!"  he  replied. 

"Lemuel,"  she  said,  "thou  knowest  that  the  king 
hath  been  informed  of  what  thou  did'st  utter  at  my 
palace  before  my  guests — that  thou  did'st  prophesy  the 
falling  of  Babylon  and  of  her  monarch.  This  he  ad- 
judged treason.  Moreover,  he  hath  learned  that  there 

195 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

is  a  plot  among  the  Israelites  captive  in  Babylon  to 
rebel,  and  tbat  thou  art  to  be  their  leader.  Is  this 
true  ?" 

"I  have  naught  to  say,  lady,"  he  answered.  "Let 
my  accusers  prove  what  they  can." 

"Dost  thou  know  the  penalty  of  such  a  crime ?"  she 
asked  him. 

"  Crime !"  he  exclaimed,  with  sudden  fervour.  "  That 
word  better  befits  the  deeds  of  the  oppressors  than  the 
struggles  of  the  oppressed.  But — I  know  the  penalty 
of  such  an  act  as  thou  hast  described.  It  is  death." 

"  Yea,"  she  said,  "  for  he  who  lifteth  his  hand  against 
our  lord  the  king  shall  perish  by  fire.  This  fearful  fate 
must  surely  be  thine,  unless " 

She  paused,  casting  down  her  great  eyes  to  the 
ground,  while  a  warm  flush  slowly  spread  over  her 
beautiful  and  tragic  face. 

"  Unless  what,  lady  ?"  asked  Lemuel. 

"  Unless  one  who  hath  great  influence  with  the  king 
doth  plead  on  thy  behalf." 

"  Who  hath  such  influence  ?"  said  Lemuel,  looking 
upon  her  search ingly. 

"  I  have,"  responded  Ishtar,  in  a  low  voice  as  of  one 
ashamed.  "  But  I  may  not  go  before  my  lord  the  king 
with  empty  hands,  pleading  for  grace  and  mercy.  Nor 
will  he  be  content,  even  though  the  revolt  be  abandoned, 
to  let  the  matter  pass  without  some  punishment." 

"  Dost  thou  mean  that,  unless  I  suffer,  some  other 
must  ?" 

She  did  not  reply  directly  to  his  question,  but  said, 
more  quickly — 

196 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"Upon  the  tablet  that  thou  gavest  me  are  many 
names " 

"  Hast  thou  not  destroyed  it  ?"  exclaimed  Lemuel. 

"  No,"  answered  Ishtar.  "  Hush !  Let  me  show  the 
names  unto  my  lord  the  king,  under  his  promise  to 
spare  thee.  Let  him  select  three  of  the  number,  who 
shall  be  punished — and  let  thee  go  free." 

But  Lemuel  turned  from  her  with  contempt. 

"  If  I  had  ten  thousand  lives,"  he  said,  "  and  those 
three  had  but  one,  not  by  that  one  would  I  buy  my  ten 
thousand." 

She  laid  her  hand  upon  his  robe,  pressing  nearer  to 
his  side. 

"  Lemuel,"  she  said,  and  her  voice  was  quick  with 
passion  and  with  excitement,  "  think — thy  refusal  will 
not  save  those  others,  if  I  give  up  the  tablet." 

He  turned  upon  her  and  looked  into  her  eyes. 

"  Will  it  save  those  others  if  thou  dost  destroy  the 
tablet  and  I  confess  my  guilt !"  he  said. 

"  It  might,"  she  answered. 

"  Then  so  let  it  be.  Go,  make  that  bargain  with 
your  lord  the  king.  I  will  be  the  scapegoat  for  my 
brethren  in  bondage." 

"  Nay,"  said  Ishtar,  "  let  me  answer  thee  after  thine 
own  fashion.  If  each  of  thy  brethren  had  twice  ten 
thousand  lives,  I  would  not  give  thy  precious  one  to 
save  them." 

Lemuel  laid  his  hand  upon  hers  to  thrust  her  from 
him,  but  Ishtar  clung  to  him,  crying — 

"  There  is  yet  another  way  by  which  to  save  thee, 
Lemuel." 

197 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  If  it  be  so  far  from  honour  as  the  other,  waste  not 
thy  breath  to  tell  it  me,"  he  said. 

"  Stay,  Lemuel ! — heed  me.  Thou — thou — did'st  ask 
me  to  take  that  tablet  to  prove  my  love  for  thee.  To 
hold  that  tablet  one  moment  from  the  king  maketh 
me  in  his  sight  a  traitor,  and  my  life  too  is  forfeit. 
Nay,  thou  shalt  hear  me !  Lemuel,  I  did  gladly  risk 
my  life  because  I  loved  thee.  In  all  Babylon  there  is 
none  richer  than  I.  Our  lord  the  king  doth  look 
with  favour  upon  me.  Were  I  to  ask  so  rich  a  boon 
as  mercy  for  thee  and  all  thy  friends — for  Lemuel,  a 
stranger,  a  plotter  against  our  lord — 'twould  be  re- 
fused. But  did  I  ask  it  for  Ishtar's  husband,  the  king 
would  surely  grant  it." 

On  the  last  words  she  clasped  her  hands  more  closely 
about  his  arm.  Her  face  was  ardent  with  desire  and 
with  love,  and  her  great  eyes  shone  with  excitement 
and  with  passion. 

"  Ishtar's  husband  ?"  exclaimed  Lemuel,  in  a  maze. 

"Yea." 

"That  may  never  be,"  he  said,  striving  to  unclasp 
her  hands.  "  Never — never !" 

"  And  why  ?"  she  whispered.     "  Why,  Lemuel  ?" 

Her  breath  was  hot  on  his  cheek.  Her  stormy  heart 
beat  under  the  hand  with  which  again  he  strove  to  put 
her  from  him. 

"  I  love  another,"  he  said  quickly. 

"  This  Israelitish  girl— this  Elna  ?" 

"  Even  so." 

"  But  she  can  never  be  thine,  even  if  thou  wert  free. 
She  is  thy  brother's.  Thou  can'st,  by  wedding  me, 

198 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

save  all  these  thy  people,  and  thou  wilt  let  them 
die." 

And  she  clung  to  him  more  closely,  gazing  into  his 
face  with  a  fury  of  anxiety. 

"  Woman,"  said  Lemuel,  "  why  wilt  thou  compel  me 
to  open  my  mouth  and  say  that  which  is  in  my  heart  ? 
Because  thou  hast  avowed  a  love  for  me, — and  the 
love  that  is  unselfish,  even  of  the  vilest,  a  man  may 
not  despise, — because  of  this  love,  and  for  that  thou 
hast  done  me  a  service,  I  have  set  a  seal  upon  my 
tongue.  For  I  would  not  hurt  thee  who  art,  whate'er 
thy  sins,  a  woman.  I  have  answered  thee.  Be  thou 
content.  This  thing  cannot  be." 

And  with  gentle  but  inexorable  force  he  put  her 
from  him. 

"Then  shall  thy  people  perish!"  she  cried. 

"  They  are  not  my  people  who  would  buy  their  lives 
at  such  a  price.  By  the  laws  of  my  people  no  man 
may  wed  with — with  such  as  thou  art — and  live." 

Ishtar  cowered,  as  if  struck  by  a  blow.  But  her 
passion  still  drove  her  onward,  and  she  answered — 

"  Remember,  if  thou  dost  refuse  me,  the  tablet  will  I 
give  unto  the  king ;  and  they — and  this  girl  Elna — all 
shall  surely  perish,  and  perish  by  fire." 

A  look  of  horror  came  into  the  face  of  Lemuel  as 
she  spoke  Elna's  name. 

"  No,  no !"  he  cried.  "  She — Elna — hath  no  share  in 
this  thing.  She  is  innocent  of  any  harm,  any  sin. 
She  hath  only  loved  me.  That  is  no  sin." 

"  The  sin  is,  in  my  eyes,  that  thou  lovest  her,"  said 
Ishtar.  "She  hath  wronged  thy  brother.  Let  her 

199 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

atone.  It  may  be,  if  he  doth  love  her  truly,  that  he 
would  not  exact  the  penalty  of  her  fault,  but  would 
forgive  her.  Think  not  that  her  love  for  thee  would 
last  for  ever.  She  would  forget  thee  and  find  hap- 
piness in  Jediah's  love." 

"  In  his  love  happiness  for  Elna !"  said  Lemuel. 
"  Lady,  thou  hast  answered  thyself.  She  who  did  risk 
her  life  because  she  loved,  could  never  save  that  life  at 
the  price  of  that  love's  constancy.  Love  hath  the  vic- 
tory. Let  death  come !  Love  knows  no  fear  save  the 
one  dread  of  parting.  And  we  shall  be  united  by  the 
grave.  She  who  was  true  to  me,  even  at  the  risk  of 
her  life,  shall  find  me  true  even  unto  death." 

He  turned  from  Ishtar  proudly,  and,  raising  his 
voice,  he  cried  aloud — 

"  Jailer !" 

The  jailer  came  in  answer  to  the  cry. 

"  This  lady  and  I  have  nothing  more  to  speak  of," 
said  Lemuel.  "  Do  thy  duty  upon  me.  I  am  ready." 

The  jailer  looked  towards  Ishtar,  as  if  for  her  com- 
mands. But  she  stood  with  bowed  head  and  spoke  no 
word.  Therefore  he  flung  aside  the  door  of  Lemuel's 
cell,  and  said  roughly — 

"  Enter,  Israelite  !" 

The  heavy  door  closed  with  a  crash.  There  was  a 
rattle  as  the  heavy  bars  fell  into  their  places. 

"  "Wilt  thou  go,  lady  ?"  said  the  jailer  to  Ishtar. 
"  What  more  desirest  thou  ?" 

He  stood  still  and  looked  upon  her  with  a  coarse 
curiosity.  She  made  him  a  sign  to  leave  her.  He 
obeyed,  muttering  to  himself,  as  he  went  about  his 

2OO 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

business.  When  Ishtar  stood  alone,  there  seemed  to 
be  some  great  struggle  going  on  within  her,  some 
tempest  of  the  emotions,  some  fierce  storm  of  the  soul 
that  shook  and  convulsed  her,  till  she  trembled  and 
leaned  against  the  stone  wall  of  the  cell  where  Lemuel 
lay  in  darkness.  She  pressed  her  forehead  to  the  cold 
stone,  and  pressed  her  two  hands  to  it,  and  stayed  thus, 
with  her  eyes  closed.  Her  lips  were  trembling  con- 
vulsively. The  tears  burst  out  between  her  eyelids. 
All  the  heart  of  her  wailed  and  fought,  and  was  fierce 
and  cruel,  pitiless  and  pitiful  by  turns,  as  the  waves  of 
intense  feeling  surged  through  her.  And  now  it  was 
the  nature  of  the  great  courtesan  who  had  ruled  in 
Babylon  that  triumphed,  and  a  superb  savage  stood 
there,  hating  Elna  and  her  lover,  ready  to  watch  them 
die  in  agony  surrounded  by  the  aspiring  tongues  of 
flame.  And  now  it  was  the  nature  of  the  woman  who 
had  been  twisted  and  turned  away  from  God's  good 
purpose  for  a  time  that  won  the  victory.  The  battle 
was  sore  and  bitter,  and  the  woman  went  down  as  if 
into  hell.  She  was  in  thick  darkness,  and  as  if  below 
the  roots  of  the  world.  But  at  last  a  light  shone 
through  the  shadows  of  evil  and  of  terror.  Her  heart 
was  shaken  by  a  pulse  of  purity  and  of  glorious  self- 
abnegation.  And,  stretching  forth  her  hands  to  the 
cell  where  Lemuel  sat  alone  in  the  blackness,  waiting 
for  death,  she  whispered  to  the  stones — 

"Oh  brave,  true  soul!  Ah,  had  such  a  love  been 
mine!  And  shall  he  indeed  perish?  Nay,  not  while 
Ishtar  liveth  and  hath  power  to  redeem — if  but  a  little 
— the  much  evil  she  hath  wrought.  Can  the  past 

2OI 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

die?  Can  the  dead  bury  the  dead  ?  Light  doth  follow 
darkness.  Life  doth  spring  from  death.  Peradven- 
ture,  with  the  light  of  this  man's  strong  soul  to  guide 
her,  even  Ishtar  may  at  last  walk  forth  into  the  day !" 
She  bent  down  and  pressed  her  soft  lips  upon  the 
bar  that  lay  across  the  door.  Then  she  drew  her  veil 
across  her  face,  and  turned  and  went  out  swiftly  from 
the  prison. 


2O2 


CHAPTER    XII 

WHEN  Jediah  slunk  away  from  the  palace  of  Alorus, 
he  was  torn  asunder  by  conflicting  emotions  of  so 
great  violence  that,  as  he  passed  through  the  streets 
teeming  with  the  population  of  Babylon,  he  scarce 
knew  that  he  was  not  alone.  He  perceived  those 
around  him,  indeed,  but  vaguely,  as  people  see  through 
a  thick  mist  which  distorts  their  actions  and  deadens 
their  voices.  For  he  was  self-centred,  self-engrossed, 
preoccupied  by  two  widely  diverse  sensations — tri- 
umph and  baffled  despair.  The  triumph  came  to  him 
from  the  thought  that  Lemuel  was  now  indeed  doomed 
to  die,  that  his  brother  must  pass  on  into  the  other 
world  through  the  flaming  furnace  heated  by  Babylon 
for  the  destruction  of  all  those  who  dared  to  plot 
against  the  king  and  his  glory.  Naught  could  save 
Lemuel  now.  His  days  upon  earth  were  surely  num- 
bered. He  must  go — even  as  all  men  at  the  last — to 
his  own  place.  He  must  leave  Elna.  He  must  re- 
sign his  dear  hope  of  being  the  saviour  of  his  down- 
trodden nation.  Love  and  religious  ambition,  the 
hopes  of  love  and  the  hopes  of  glory — all  had  crum- 
bled into  the  dust.  And  in  that  thought  Jediah  ex- 
ulted. He  clinched  his  hands  together,  and  his  fierce 
eyes  blazed  like  the  eyes  of  a  madman,  as  he  saw  be- 
fore him  a  vision  of  fire  and  Lemuel  set  in  the  midst 
of  it.  But  then  came  to  him  that  cold  and  deadly 

203 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

sensation  of  baffled  despair,  as  he  remembered  Elna, 
and  that  she  was  surely  passing  beyond  his  reach. 
For  death  would  surely  be  her  lot  also.  Rather  than 
that  she  should  give  herself  up  to  Lemuel  would  Jediah 
have  fallen  upon  and,  with  his  own  hands,  strangled 
her.  But  if  Lemuel  should  be  slain  and  she  live  on ! 
That  would  be  sweet.  For  then  would  she  have  none 
to  turn  to  save  only  to  him  who  alone  had  the  right  to 
claim  her  and  to  keep  her  his  for  ever.  And  within 
Jediah  there  sprang  up  a  fury  of  passionate  desire, 
cruel,  vindictive,  and  almost  demoniac,  to  possess  Elna 
— to  have  her  at  length  for  his  own,  for  his  chattel,  his 
thing,  on  which  he  could  wreak  both  his  physical  love 
and  his  mental  hate,  his  passion  for  vengeance  and  his 
passion  for  power.  Then  he  felt,  indeed,  that  he  could 
not  let  her  go  from  him  to  the  fire ;  that  perhaps,  after 
death,  would  she  and  Lemuel  be  united  in  the  great 
region  beyond,  be  granted  there  the  fulfilment  of  that 
love  which  he  had  frustrated  upon  earth.  And  feeling 
thus,  he  raged  as  he  walked,  till  the  passers-by  were 
terrified  by  his  demeanour,  and  the  little  playing  chil- 
dren ran,  crying  for  fear,  to  their  mothers,  hiding  hot 
little  faces  in  their  robes  in  order  not  to  see  any  longer 
the  distorted  and  wolfish  countenance  of  this  haggard 
Israelite,  who  stalked  on  unheeding  them. 

Thinking  and  thinking  thus,  Jediah  presently  be- 
came possessed  of  one  dominating  idea.  How  could 
Elna  be  saved?  The  destruction  of  Lemuel  was  cer- 
tain. Jediah  wished  it,  exulted  in  the  thought  of  it. 
But  Elna !  She  must  be  saved — saved  for  him,  saved 
fur  the  fate  he  silently  prepared  for  her.  She  must  be 

204 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

saved  to  be  his  wife,  to  dwell  in  his  tent,  sleep  by  his 
side,  eat  of  his  salt,  and  call  him  lord  and  master. 
Yes,  she  must  be  saved — saved.  But  how?  All  that 
night  he  brooded  and  pondered.  But  he  could  come 
to  no  conclusion.  The  sun  shone  in  upon  him  as  he 
crouched  on  his  bed  in  the  small  chamber  that  he  had 
hired  in  the  eastern  quarter  of  the  city.  The  cries  of 
the  people  going  about  their  business  summoned  him 
forth.  But  he  remained  immersed  in  thought,  and  un- 
able to  come  to  any  conclusion.  It  was  late  in  the 
afternoon  ere  he  left  his  chamber.  He  descended  the 
street  in  which  was  set  the  house  he  occupied,  and 
wandered  on  and  on  through  the  maze  of  the  streets 
of  Babylon,  his  head  bent  upon  his  breast,  his  eyes 
half  closed,  pondering  ever  how  to  snatch  Elna  from 
the  fire  in  which  Lemuel  must  burn  and  be  destroyed. 
Towards  evening,  while  he  thus  walked,  like  a  man 
blind  and  deaf,  enclosed  in  the  narrow  chamber  of 
his  thoughts,  he  heard — as  from  a  long  distance — two 
Babylonians  who  spoke  together  beside  a  water-spring, 
beneath  a  palm-tree  in  a  square  of  the  city.  Their 
voices  pierced  his  dream  and  shook  his  soul  awake. 
For  one  said  to  the  other — 

"  Nay,  and  indeed  the  power  of  women  passeth  all 
knowledge  and  is  beyond  all  reason." 

"  Why  sayest  thou  so  ?"  answered  the  other.  "  Hath 
thy  wife,  then,  lorded  it  over  thee,  as  is  the  way  of 
women  when  they  see  that  they  are  beloved." 

"  My  wife ! — nay.  But  hast  thou  not  heard  of  the 
doing  of  Ishtar  in  the  palace  of  our  lord  the  king  ?" 

"Not  a  word." 

205 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

Jediah  stood  still  to  listen. 

"  Well,"  continued  the  first  Babylonian,  "  it  seems 
that  she  hath  set  her  eyes  in  love  upon  this  self-same 
Israelitish  shepherd,  Lemuel,  who  hath  falsely  pre- 
dicted the  destruction  of  our  mighty  city  and  the  end 
of  the  king's  glorious  rule." 

"  Is  he  of  a  goodly  form  and  countenance  ?" 

"I  know  not.  For  this  treason  of  his,  the  king 
condemned  the  shepherd  and  the  maid,  one  Elna,  who 
had  put  on  man's  attire  for  love  of  him,  to  perish  by 
fire." 

"  'Twas  rightly  and  well  ordained." 

"  Yea.  But  Ishtar,  having  cast  her  eyes  on  this 
shepherd,  liked  it  not.  She  went  up  into  the  palace 
of  the  king  to  plead  for  the  revoking  of  his  decree." 

"  These  women  are  bolder  than  we  men,  of  a  truth." 

"And  with  her  words  she  so  weighed  upon  the  king 
that  he  hath  yielded  unto  her  entreaty." 

Jediah  moved  a  step  towards  the  speakers. 

"  What  sayest  thou  ?"  he  cried  harshly. 

The  two  Babylonians  looked  at  him  in  amaze. 

"Who  art  thou,  stranger,  that  speakest  thus  to 
those  who  know  thee  not  ?"  asked  he  who  was  telling 
the  story  haughtily. 

Jediah  bowed  low. 

"  Thy  pardon,  sir,"  he  said ;  "  but  I  was  so  interested 
in  thy  strange  tale  of  this  Ishtar  and  the  king  that  I 
could  not  help  but  listen.  Forgive  me,  I  pray  thee." 

The  Babylonian  smiled  in  gratified  vanity. 

"  Bel  hath  given  me  the  power  of  speech,  I  verily 
believe,  stranger,"  he  answered,  "For  all  the  town 

206 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

telleth  me  so.     All  praise  to  the  great  god  Bel,  in 
whose  hands  we  are  but  as  dust." 

"Let  me  hear  the  end  of  thy  tale,  I  pray  thee," 
said  Jediah.  "Are  these  two  prisoners  to  go  free? 
Hath  Ishtar  indeed  gained  so  great  favour  from  my 
lord  the  king  ?" 

And  he  shook,  like  a  man  palsied,  with  rage  and 
fear. 

"  Nay,"  returned  the  Babylonian,  "  they  shall  not  go 
free." 

"  What,  then,  is  the  sentence  upon  them?  Tell  me, 
I  beseech  thee." 

"  The  king  hath  granted  to  Ishtar,  whose  beauty  is 
indeed  above  the  beauty  of  all  other  women " 

"  And  the  king  loveth  well  a  pretty  face,"  interrupted 
the  other  Babylonian. 

"  Yea — yea.  He  is  a  man,  as  all  of  us !  The  king 
hath  granted  to  Ishtar  that  these  plotters  against  his 
glory  shall  not  die." 

"They  are  to  live?  Lemuel  is  to  live?"  cried 
Jediah. 

"  Yea — but  both  he  and  the  girl  Elna  are  to  be  sold 
into  slavery." 

Jediah  uttered  an  inarticulate  exclamation. 

"  They  will  be  offered  up  to  the  highest  bidder  in  the 
great  slave-market  to-morrow  at  noon,"  continued  the 
Babylonian.  "  All  the  city  will  be  there,  they  do  say. 
For  Elna,  the  maid,  is  beautiful.  And  we  of  Babylon 
do  love  beauty  in  women,  even  if  they  be  Israelites." 

He  burst  into  a  coarse  laugh. 

"Dost  thou  love  women,  stranger?"  he  cried. 
207 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

But  Jediah  turned  from  him  without  another  word, 
and  strode  rapidly  away. 

This  new  turning  of  events  threw  Jediah  into  a  par- 
oxysm of  fury  and  excitement.  That  Lemuel  should, 
in  spite  of  all,  escape  death,  angered  him  to  the  verge 
of  fury.  Even  in  slavery,  in  perpetual  bondage,  Lem- 
uel might  be  happy.  He  might  be  purchased  by  some 
Babylonian  woman  for  the  sake  of  his  handsome  face 
and  noble  bearing.  He  might  live  in  luxury,  be  petted 
and  caressed.  In  any  event,  he  would  escape  the  ven- 
geance of  Jediah — unless — unless 

Jediah  spoke  aloud  to  himself  as  he  strode  on.  A 
determination  was  taking  shape  in  his  mind.  He  saw 
a  possibility  of  the  personal  vengeance  that  his  soul 
desired  clearly  before  him.  If  Lemuel  and  Elna  were 
indeed  offered  for  sale  to  the  highest  bidder  in  the 
slave-market  of  Babylon,  why  should  not  he — Jediah — 
buy  his  own  brother,  his  own  betrothed?  He  was 
rich.  He  would  spend  all  his  substance  for  revenge. 
He  would  give  all — every  foot  of  land,  every  sheep  and 
goat,  every  grain  of  corn,  the  very  robe  that  covered 
him,  the  gold  chain  which  he  wore  about  his  neck — 
but  he  would  have  those  captives  for  his.  And,  once 
he  possessed  them,  he  would  drag  them  before  the 
Judgment  Seat  of  Zoar,  in  the  plain  beside  the  tents 
of  his  people.  They  should  be  tried.  They  should  be 
condemned.  They  should  be  stoned  to  death.  He 
laughed  aloud  in  wild  exultation,  and  he  felt  the  stones 
grasped  within  his  clinched  hands.  He  saw  the  white 
faces  of  his  victims.  They  should  not  escape  him. 
Naught  should  save  them  from  him.  He  would  give 

208 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

the  very  flesh  from  his  bones  rather  than  they  should 
be  sold  to  another.  To-morrow  !  To-morrow  at  noon ! 
All  night  he  walked  to  and  fro  in  the  lighted  streets 
till  all  men  slept  and  the  great  city  was  silent.  He 
paced  upon  the  river  bank  of  Euphrates,  where  lay  the 
ships  along  the  wharves,  and  the  Babylonian  guards 
slept  beside  the  bales  of  merchandise  from  all  lands. 
The  moon  lay  on  the  river,  and  the  grey  of  dawn  came 
up  over  the  water,  changing  it  from  silver  to  the  colour 
of  a  mirror  of  steel.  The  sailors  stirred  from  their 
dreams  of  seafaring  men.  The  sun  lay  red  in  the 
golden  couch  of  the  east.  But  Jediah  neither  saw,  nor 
heard,  nor  heeded.  Like  the  madman,  his  mind  held 
him  in  a  vice.  His  soul  was  a  prisoner  in  the  chains 
of  one  idea.  And  the  gay  light  of  morning  fell  upon 
him  and  found  him  gray-haired,  haggard,  and  with 
livid  eyes  of  fire,  still  pacing  up  and  down,  still  mut- 
tering over  to  himself  as  one  who  murmurs  and  who 
cries  in  slumber. 

The  slave-market  of  Babylon  was  an  immense  square, 
bounded  upon  three  sides  with  tall  houses,  while  upon 
the  fourth  side  there  was  a  public  garden,  shady  with 
trees  and  bright  with  flowers.  In  the  distance,  beyond 
the  garden,  might  be  seen  the  watchtowers  of  the  city 
and  a  glimpse  of  the  river  Euphrates.  At  the  entrance 
of  the  garden,  at  the  back  of  the  square,  stood  one  of 
the  glories  of  Babylon,  a  gigantic  statue  of  the  god 
Bel,  made  of  solid  gold,  which  gleamed  in  the  sun  and 
could  be  seen  from  far.  It  stood  upon  a  platform  of 
alabaster,  and  was  surrounded  by  flowers  offered  by 
H  209 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF   BABYLON 

devout  worshippers  to  propitiate  the  god.  In  the 
centre  of  the  square  stood  a  rostrum,  some  six  feet 
high,  eight  feet  deep,  and  twelve  feet  wi<!fc,  surrounded 
by  a  balustrade  of  marble.  Upon  this  rostrum  the 
slaves  were  exposed  to  the  view  of  the  crowd  and 
were  offered  for  sale.  This  market  was  usually  hum- 
ming with  people,  and  was  a  centre  of  barter  and  of 
discussion.  Here  came  the  lowest  of  the  Babylonians, 
drawn  thither  by  the  attraction  of  beholding  the  great 
nobles  who  often  bid  for  slaves  in  person.  Here  came 
the  merchants  and  the  traders,  the  auctioneers, — those 
who  offered  the  slaves  and  cried  aloud  their  attractions, 
— and  all  the  young  dandies  of  the  day.  These  feasted 
their  eyes  upon  the  lovely  girls  who  were  bought  for 
great  prices,  and  sometimes,  in  sheer  wantonness,  sent 
up  the  bidding  when  they  perceived  some  old  and  dis- 
sipated Babylonian  busily  intent  upon  a  certain  slave. 
And  here,  too,  came  many  wealthy  women  to  purchase 
handsome  men  for  their  palaces.  For  in  Babylon  the 
women  were  not  veiled  and  secluded  as  in  many 
countries  of  the  East,  but  walked  abroad  in  the  day- 
light unabashed,  showing  their  bold  faces  to  all  that 
cared  to  look  upon  them,  and  in  very  sooth  rivalling 
each  other  in  efforts  to  attract  the  notice  of  the 
passers-by. 

The  slave-market  was  habitually  crowded,  but  to-day 
the  concourse,  drawn  thither  from  all  quarters  of  Baby- 
lon, was  extraordinary,  and  showed  plainly  that  some 
event  of  an  unusual  nature  had  very  greatly  excited 
the  public  mind.  Not  only  was  the  whole  square 
packed  with  people,  but  the  crowd  even  overflowed 

2IO 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

into  the  adjacent  streets.  The  windows  of  all  the 
houses  were  beset  with  gazers,  who  also  clustered  upon 
the  roofs.  And  upon  every  step,  beneath  every  por- 
tico, stood  knots  of  the  curious.  For  Lemuel's  denun- 
ciation of  the  city  and  prophecy  of  its  passing  away, 
the  sentence  of  death  by  fire  passed  upon  him,  the 
errand  of  Ishtar  to  the  palace  of  the  king,  and  the 
subsequent  revocation  of  the  royal  decree,  had  become 
known  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  Babylon. 
All  men  and  women  spoke  of  it.  Even  the  children 
babbled  of  it  as  they  played  about  the  doors  of  their 
parents.  And  every  one  desired  to  look  upon  this 
shepherd  who  dared  defy  the  king  and  the  gods,  and 
who  had  won  the  love  of  the  beautiful  woman  whom 
all  men  sought.  There  were,  also,  many  who  were 
fain  to  behold  the  maiden  Elna,  who  had  stolen  into 
the  city  attired  as  a  boy.  For  her  sake  came  all  the 
young  dandies,  and  gossip  about  her  flew  from  mouth 
to  mouth.  But  there  was  another  reason  still  for  the 
assembling  of  this  mighty  concourse. 

The  Israelites  in  Babylon,  who  numbered  at  this 
time  a  considerable  part  of  the  population,  were  greatly 
moved  and  excited  by  the  seizure  of  Lemuel,  his  con- 
demnation to  death,  and  the  subsequent  decree  that  he 
was  to  be  publicly  sold  into  slavery.  For  in  Lemuel 
they  had  put  their  trust,  on  him  they  had  set  their 
hopes  of  freedom.  They  had  begun  to  look  upon  him 
as  their  Messiah,  from  whom  would  come  salvation. 
His  fiery  denunciation  of  Babylon,  his  prophecy  of  its 
fall,  had  appealed  to  their  hearts  and  stirred  their  im- 
aginations into  a  ferment  of  patriotic  fervour.  The 

211 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

thought  of  his  fall,  of  his  degradation,  of  his  captivity, 
was  bitter  and  abhorrent  to  them.  Upon  their  excite- 
ment certain  secret  agents  of  the  great  cause  of  Israel's 
freedom  had  cunningly  played,  arguing  that  the  hour 
had  come  to  strike  a  bold  blow ;  that  if  they  allowed 
Lemuel  to  be  borne  away  into  bondage,  the  hopes  of 
Israel  would  be  dashed  to  the  ground  for  ever.  These 
secret  agents,  among  whom  was  Sabaal,  had  worked 
with  such  passion  and  success  that  all  Israel  in  Baby- 
lon had  flowed  forth  to  the  slave-market,  intent  upon 
one  thing  only — the  rescue  of  their  shepherd-prophet, 
Lemuel.  Wherever  the  eyes  gazed  might  be  discerned 
shrouded  men  gathered  together  in  knots,  watchful, 
silent,  determined.  And  as  the  hour  of  noon  drew 
near,  these  men  closed  up  quietly  towards  the  rostrum 
on  which  Elna  and  Lemuel  were  to  be  offered  for  sale. 
They  were  unnoticed  by  the  gay  and  laughing  Baby- 
lonians, who  were  too  intent  upon  the  prospect  of  see- 
ing this  famous  shepherd  and  his  love  sold  into  bondage 
to  think  of  aught  else,  and  who,  besides,  felt  far  too 
secure  and  powerful  in  their  great  and  prosperous  city 
to  dream  of  any  attempt  at  rescue  on  the  part  of  peo- 
ple whom  they  regarded  with  contempt  as  wretched 
dogs  of  Israelites,  only  worthy  to  pay  tribute  and  per- 
form the  most  menial  services  for  their  own  greater 

glory- 
Already,  upon  the  rostrum  in  the  middle  of  the  mar- 
ket, various  slaves  were  being  offered  to  the  critical 
buyers.  The  auctioneer  in  strident  tones  called  aloud 
their  beauties,  their  virtues,  and  their  various  capabili- 
ties. But  the  mass  of  the  people  scarcely  heeded  his 

212 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

voice.  They  were  too  much  occupied  in  chattering 
among  themselves,  and  in  retailing  a  thousand  pieces 
of  scandal,  many  of  which  related  to  the  doings  of  the 
famous  Ishtar,  whose  name,  at  this  time,  was  eternally 
upon  the  lips  of  Babylon.  In  the  midst  of  the  crowd, 
intent  upon  the  making  of  money,  stood  Migdapul  the 
god-seller.  Although  he  was  grown  rich  in  the  secret 
service  of  Ishtar,  he  still  found  occasion  to  continue,  in 
propitious  moments,  his  barter  of  deities;  and  now, 
above  the  roar  of  the  people,  he  might  be  heard  crying 
in  a  piercing  voice — 

"  Come  hither,  ye  who  would  buy  gods !  Buy  them 
of  me  !  I  sell  the  cheapest  gods  in  Babylon !  Mero- 
dach,  the  general  of  all  gods — he  who  can  cure  witch- 
craft and  brain-sickness,  for  one  shekel !  Anu,  god  of 
heaven,  and  Anatu,  his  consort,  for  two  shekels!  Bel, 
the  great  god  Bel,  who  ruleth  the  evil  of  the  south- 
west wind — who  will  give  a  shekel  for  Bel  ?  Bel,  who 
alone  hath  power  to  dispel  the  seven  evil  spirits  who 
seize  the  body,  who  bring  wastings  and  fevers,  sickness 
of  the  head,  sickness  of  the  heart,  sickness  of  terror — 
the  ruler  of  the  Seven !  Who  will  buy  him  for  only 
one  shekel  ?  Only  one  shekel  for  the  great  god 
Bel!" 

A  handsome  woman  moved  slowly  through  the 
crowd,  and  Migdapul  was  about  to  devote  his  special 
attention  to  her,  when  she  stopped  and  said  to  him 
angrily — 

"I  did  buy  gods  of  thee,  but  I  want  my  money 
again,  for  thy  gods  are  useless,  and  thou  thyself  art 
but  a  cheat.  Bel,  so  thou  did'st  tell  me,  would  make 

213 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

my  husband  true  unto  me.    And,  to  make  all  sure,  I 
bought  two  images  of  the  great  god  Bel." 

"  Well  ?"  said  Migdapul,  with  his  habitual  sturdy 
impudence.  "  And  what  hath  befallen  thee  ?" 

"  Evil  hath  befallen  me.  While  I  was  praying  to 
the  great  god  Bel  to  make  my  husband  true,  in  came 
my  husband.  'For  what  dost  thou  pray?'  said  my 
husband.  'To  the  great  god  Bel  to  make  thee  true 
unto  me,'  said  I.  '  Verily,  that  is  good  and  wise  of 
thee,'  said  my  husband.  'But  thou  must  pray  from 
now  until  the  sun  goeth  down  if  thy  prayers  are  to  be 
granted,'  said  he." 

The  crowd  who  stood  round  about  listening,  began  to 
laugh.  And  Migdapul  winked  at  them  merrily  as  he 
answered — 

"  A  wise  man  that  same  husband  of  thine.  These 
things  do  take  time — as  most  men  know." 

"  A  wise  man !"  cried  the  woman.  "  A  cheat !  a 
deceiver !" 

"  How,  good  woman — how  ?" 

"  Why,  it  was  then  but  noon,  but  I  prayed  until  the 
sun  went  down,  and  my  knees  ached  and  my  head 
swam,  and  my  voice  grew  weak  with  my  supplications." 

"  And  was  he  not  true  unto  thee  ?"  said  Migdapul, 
while  the  curious  people  pressed  ever  more  closely 
round  to  hear  the  end. 

"  True !  True,  forsooth !"  exclaimed  the  woman 
wrathfully.  "  No.  He  got  me  to  pray  from  noon  to 
sunset  to  the  great  god  Bel  to  make  him  true  to  me, 
that  he  might  go  unhindered  to  the  wineshop  and 
make  love  to  my  handmaiden." 

214 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

She  burst  into  angry  tears,  and  sobbed  out — 

"  I  want  my  money  back !  Give  me  my  money 
back!" 

"  But  thy  handmaiden,"  said  Migdapul,  totally  un- 
moved. "  She  is  tall  and  fair?" 

"  She  is  not !"  cried  the  woman.  "  She  is  short  and 
black — ugly  creature !  Give  me  back  my  money  I" 

"Short  and  black!"  ejaculated  Migdapul. 

He  paused  and  seemed  to  muse.  Then  suddenly,  as 
if  a  light  broke  on  him,  he  cried — 

"The  same!  Now  I  understand!  She,  thy  hand- 
maiden, bought  of  me  Merodach  for  three  shekels,  and 
thou  Bel  for  but  two.  And  while  thou  did'st  beseech 
Bel,  at  two  shekels,  to  make  thy  husband  true,  she  did 
beseech  Merodach,  at  three  shekels,  to  make  him  false." 

The  crowd  laughed  again  at  the  adroitness  of  the 
god-seller.  But  the  woman  wailed — 

"  What  am  I  to  do  ?" 

"  Pluck  up  thine  heart,"  said  Migdapul,  "  and  buy 
two  of  Merodach  for  six  shekels,  and  triumph  over  this 
naughty  handmaid  who  would  rob  thee  of  thy  lawful 
husband." 

"Six  shekels!"  said  the  woman  doubtfully.  "Six! 
For  that  I  must  sell  this  string  of  beads,  this  amulet, 
this  girdle,  and  this  raiment." 

And  she  gazed  down  at  her  robe,  which  was  of  fine 
linen,  gaily  embroidered. 

"  Well,  what  of  that,"  said  Migdapul,  with  affected 
gravity,  "  if  you  buy  your  husband  back  ?  Have  a 
heart,  good  woman.  Wilt  be  wronged  and  deceived 
by  this  long  white  handmaiden  ?" 

215 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  No,  no — not  long  and  white ;  short  and  black,  and 
most  evil-favoured !" 

"Did  I  not  say  short  and  black — with  her  paltry 
three-shekel  Merodach,  when  for  the  sacrifice  of  these 
few  beads,  this  amulet,  and  this  robe  thou  canst 
triumph  over  her  for  ever  ?  Come,  have  a  spirit !" 

He  held  forth  his  gods. 

"Here!"  he  cried,  "and  here!  Never  falter  nor 
dally !  Hence  with  this  long  white — I  should  say, 
short  black — handmaid !  Come !  Come !" 

"  I  will — verily  I  will !"  exclaimed  the  woman,  who 
was  now  becoming  very  excited  at  the  thought  of 
vengeance. 

"  Yerily,  thou  shalt !"  vociferated  Migdapul.  "  Come  ! 
Haste  !  Off  with  the  beads !  Off  with  the  amulet !" 

He  snatched  them  from  her  eagerly,  while  the  people 
around  laughed  and  applauded  him. 

"Off  with  the  girdle!  'Tis  well.  Off  with  the 

Nay,  I  am  an  easy  man.  Thou  shalt  keep  this  robe, 
for  it  becometh  thee  well.  I  make  thee  a  present  of 
thy  gown,  good  woman." 

And  as  the  woman  hurried  away,  holding  fast  the 
effigies  for  which  she  had  parted  from  so  much,  Mig- 
dapul winked  merrily  at  the  crowd,  then  turning  up 
his  small  eyes  piously  and  showing  his  pointed  tusks  of 
teeth,  he  moved  slowly  away,  ejaculating — 

"  Blessed  be  the  gods,  by  whom  alone  I  live !  Blessed 
be  the  eternal  gods !" 

While  the  attention  of  many  in  the  crowd  had  been 
attracted  by  the  foregoing  scene,  Sabaal,  who  passed 
incessantly  hither  and  thither,  wriggling  through  the 

2l6 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

throng  as  deftly  as  some  serpent  of  the  desert,  met 
with  Elkanus,  who,  as  usual,  was  beating  his  cups  to- 
gether and  crying,  "  Water,  water,  sweet  and  cool !" 

"  Elkanus !  Elkanus !"  he  whispered  softly. 

"Ah,  Sabaal!"  returned  the  other,  with  equal  pre- 
caution. "  What  is  thy  news  ?" 

"  Have  a  care !  These  Babylonian  eyes  and  ears  are 
sharp.  Lemuel  is  not  to  die." 

"  Nay,  but  to  go  into  bondage." 

"Lemuel  is  not  to  go  into  bondage,"  whispered 
Sabaal  significantly. 

"  Not  to  go  into  bondage  ?     But " 

"Not  without  a  struggle.  Lemuel  hath  been  be- 
trayed, but  he  hath  not  betrayed  his  people.  Even  so 
shall  his  people  deal  with  him.  Go  among  them — but 
with  caution,  Elkanus!  Bid  them  stand  close  about 
the  rostrum  and  await  my  signal.  All  our  brethren 
are  here  in  the  crowd.  We  are  many.  We  will  strike 
a  blow  for  Lemuel.  We  will  rescue  him  or  die." 

Elkanus  nodded  with  assumed  carelessness.  Then 
he  beat  his  cups  together,  and  cried  aloud — 

"Come  ye  who  thirst!  Water,  water,  sweet  and 
cool!" 

Some  Israelites  gathered  round  him  to  drink  from 
his  gourd.  As  he  gave  them  to  drink,  he  exchanged 
with  them  greetings  and  directions.'  Sabaal  stole  away 
through  the  crowd. 

On  its  outskirts  at  this  moment  appeared  Jediah, 
walking  with  the  Israelite  Adoram.  Jediah  was  pale 
as  wax.  His  long  beard  was  untrimmed  and  ragged. 
His  grey  hair  was  disordered.  Beneath  his  eyes  were 

217 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

drawn  those  lines  that  grief,  anxiety,  anger,  terror 
trace  so  clearly  and  so  piteously  on  the  countenance 
of  man.  He  walked  heavily,  for  all  night  he  had  not 
slept,  and  even  now  he  had  come  up  from  the  banks 
of  the  Euphrates,  where  he  had  seen  the  bitter  rising 
of  the  dawn. 

"So  this  is  the  end!"  he  said  to  Adoram,  as  they 
moved  on  with  difficulty  through  the  seething  mass  of 
the  people.  "  This  new  deliverer — this  second  Moses — 
sold  into  bondage  like  some  common  slave !  He  and 
his  companion  in  sin,  Elna.  But  they  shall  be  mine. 
I  will  buy  them  both,  Adoram,  though  it  cost  me  all 
that  I  have  in  the  world — this  chain  about  my  neck, 
this  robe  which  clothes  me." 

"Thou  wilt  do  this  much  for  love,  Jediah?"  said 
Adoram. 

"  Love !  Love !"  returned  Jediah  wildly.  "  No !  for 
hate,  for  revenge.  That  I  may  drag  them  back  in 
chains  and  punish  them.  That  I  may  see  them  die  the 
death  of  adulterers  under  the  stones  of  the  faithful 
and  the  law-abiding  of  our  people.  An  eye  for  an  eye 
and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth ;  thus  saith  the  law." 

A  hand  plucked  at  his  robe.  He  turned  sharply  and 
beheld  his  creature,  Jozadah. 

"  My  lord !  my  lord !"  cried  the  Israelite. 

"  Well,  thou  hast  failed !"  Jediah  hissed  into  his  ear. 
"  Lemuel  still  lives." 

"It  is  the  fault  of  the  king,"  said  Jozadah.  "He 
should  have  been  slain  by  night  as  he  was  leaving  the 
palace  of  Ishtar,  but,  as  thou  knowest,  he  was  arrested 

by  the  king's  command,  and  I " 

218 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Thou  art  helpless.  I  know  it,  slave.  Stand  close. 
I  may  have  other  work  for  thee.  Stand  close !" 

The  pressure  of  the  crowd  was  becoming  tremendous. 
All  the  citizens  of  Babylon  seemed  to  have  assembled 
in  the  square.  There  were  Assyrians  from  the  North 
— tall  men,  with  regular  features  of  the  Semitic  type ; 
men  descended  from  the  tribes  of  Elam  and  from  the 
Accadians,  Kassites,  Chaldeans  from  the  South ;  lithe 
youths  from  the  great  salt  marshes  that  spread  around 
the  sea-coast;  Nubians  black  and  lusty,  with  thick 
lips  and  bulging  eyes,  like  ebony  with  a  yellow  light 
playing  on  it;  Arabians,  Indians,  Persians,  walking 
with  a  sinuous  and  yet  solemn  gait;  soldiers  of  the 
guard  of  the  king,  exchanging  coarse  jokes  and  fol- 
lowing the  women  with  bold  looks  of  admiration ; 
sailors  and  traders  come  up  from  the  ships  of  the 
river;  ragged  boys  wriggling  through  the  throng 
like  eels;  beggars,  halt,  maimed,  and  blind — among 
them  Johanan,  urging  lamentably  his  infirmity; 
money-changers,  slave-dealers  intent  on  purchases, 
eunuchs,  keepers  of  the  harems,  sorcerers  and  Se- 
mites, priests  and  usurers.  And  all  seemed  talking 
at  the  height  of  their  voices,  all  seemed  pressing 
forward  towards  the  rostrum  in  the  midst  of  the 
market.  Presently  a  loud  voice  cried,  above  the  hub- 
bub— 

"  Eoom !     Eoom  for  the  Lord  Alorus !" 

Jediah  heard  the  cry,  and  cast  his  haggard  eyes 
around.  He  perceived  Alorus,  magnificently  dressed 
and  accompanied  by  Menanahim,  Meraioth, — a  rich 
woman  of  the  town, — and  other  wealthy  Babylonians 

219 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

passing  slowly  through  the  mob.     They  were  talking 
animatedly  together. 

"  Well,"  exclaimed  Meraioth,  "  I  could  almost  find  it 
in  my  woman's  heart  to  pity  this  Lemuel." 

Menanahim  burst  out  into  a  bitter  laugh. 

"Ay,  pity  him,  and  bid  for  him  at  the  sale,"  he 
cried.  "  I  hate  the  knave,  and  could  know  no  sweeter 
pleasure  than  to  see  him  thy  slave,  Meraioth.  Ha,  ha, 
ha !  Poor  fool !  How  thou  would' st  open  the  eyes  of 
his  understanding  and  knowledge  of  what  it  is  to  be  a 
woman's  slave !" 

"  I  had  not  thought  of  it,"  said  Meraioth,  in  nowise 
offended ;  "  but,  since  thou  hast  spoken,  it  may  be  that 
I  shall  bid  a  talent  of  silver  for  the  man.  He  hath  a 
handsome  head,  and  would  make  a  right  regal  chariot- 
driver.  He  was  thy  friend,  Alorus.  Wilt  thou  venture 
for  him?" 

"  By  Bel,  not  I !"  said  Alorus.  "  Make  way,  slaves ! 
Not  1 1  I  have  knaves  enough  already.  Let  him  go. 
Nay,  my  bid  will  be  for  the  maiden  who  is  with  him." 

"  I  had  thought  she  was  already  thy  slave." 

"  And  so  thought  I ;  but  our  lord  the  king,  seeing 
her  by  the  aid  of  Ishtar's  eyes,  and  disposing  of  her 
by  Ishtar's  directions,  made  me  think  otherwise." 

"  Then,"  rejoined  Meraioth,  laughing,  "  we  shall  share 
the  twain  between  us.  Lemuel  shall  be  my  slave,  and 
this  maiden  thine." 

"  The  maiden  shall,  of  a  surety,  be  mine ;  but,  unless 
Ishtar  liveth  no  longer,  all  that  thou  hast  will  not  buy 
Lemuel." 

"  What  1"  cried  Meraioth.     «  Will  she  bid  for  him  ?" 
22O 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

Alorus  burst  into  a  roar  of  laughter  that  was 
affectedly  echoed  by  Menanahim. 

"Will  Ishtar  bid  for  Lemuel?"  he  cried.  "Thou 
shalt  see — thou  shalt  see.  Room,  slaves — room,  I  say !" 

They  passed  on  towards  the  rostrum. 

It  was  now  close  upon  the  stroke  of  noon,  and  the 
excitement  and  anticipation  of  the  crowd  were  become 
intense.  The  windows  of  the  houses  were  black  with 
heads,  and  many  women  leaned  so  far  forth  that  it 
seemed,  indeed,  as  if  they  must  fall  into  the  midst  of 
the  multitude  below.  Cries  and  exclamations  resounded 
on  all  sides.  People  strained  their  necks  and  raised 
themselves  on  their  toes  to  see  the  better.  The  strong 
men  jostled  and  pushed  the  weak.  Old  people  fell  in 
the  press  and  were  trodden  under  foot.  Girls  shrieked 
in  fear,  and  none  heeded  them — not  even  their  lovers. 
The  soldiers  struck  the  crowd  with  their  fists,  and  even 
with  the  flat  of  their  weapons,  in  order  to  make  a  path 
for  themselves.  And,  with  each  moment  that  passed, 
the  uproar  became  more  terrific.  The  auctioneer,  who 
was  crying  the  merits  of  the  slaves,  could  no  longer 
make  himself  audible.  And  the  business  of  the  market 
came,  perforce,  to  a  standstill. 

And  now,  just  as  the  hour  was  at  hand,  there  was 
suddenly  a  terrific  roar  of  voices  from  the  left  side  of 
the  square,  from  which  quarter  ran  the  street  that  led 
to  the  dungeon.  The  crowd  surged  in  that  direction 
like  a  tide  of  a  great  sea.  On  every  hand  arose  shouts 
— "  Lemuel  the  Israelite  !"  "  Lemuel,  son  of  Zoar !" 
"  See  the  prophet !"  "  The  traitor !"  "  The  denouncer 
of  Babylon  !"  "  Slay  him !  slay  him  1" 

221 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

There  was  a  clashing  of  arms,  a  glitter  of  spears. 
The  crowd  surged  back  as  violently  as  it  had  surged 
forward.  For  the  guards  of  the  king,  clad  in  helmets, 
coats  of  mail,  leathern  drawers,  and  high-laced  boots, 
marched  into  the  square,  beating  back  all  who  obstructed 
their  progress.  Their  helmets  were  of  bronze,  on 
which  the  sun  shone  bravely,  and  they  bore  stout 
shields  of  metal  and  tall  spears  tipped  with  bronze. 
But  martial  and  brilliant  as  they  looked,  the  people 
scarcely  heeded  them.  For  all  eyes  were  turned  to  the 
two  who  walked  in  their  midst — to  Lemuel  and  to  the 
maiden  Elna. 

Lemuel  came  first,  walking  with  a  firm  step  and 
holding  himself  fearlessly  erect.  He  was  clad  in  a 
coarse  garment  of  wool  given  him  to  wear  in  the 
prison,  and  chains  hung  upon  his  mighty  arms  and 
upon  his  legs.  His  head  was  uncovered  to  the  blaze  of 
the  noonday  sun,  and  his  luminous  eyes  met  calmly  the 
gaze  of  the  multitude  who  thronged  about  him.  Elna, 
who  was  also  miserably  attired,  was  veiled.  She  too 
walked  with  a  firm  step  and  seemed  to  take  no  heed  of 
the  excited  uproar  of  the  rabble.  Now  and  then  the 
procession  paused,  when  the  soldiers,  for  the  moment, 
were  blocked  by  the  density  of  the  crowd.  During 
one  of  these  moments,  Sabaal  found  means  to  force  his 
way  close  up  to  Lemuel. 

"  Be  patient  and  watch  !"  he  whispered. 

Lemuel  returned  an  almost  imperceptible  sign  of  un- 
derstanding. A  soldier  brutally  beat  back  Sabaal  with 
his  shield — the  guard  moved  forward  again,  and  at 
length  gained  the  rostrum.  As  they  did  so,  the  Israel- 

222 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

ites  pressed  determinedly  forward,  and  stood  close 
around  the  steps  which  led  up  to  the  platform  on 
which  the  slaves  were  exposed  to  view.  Many  of  them 
leaned  upon  stout  staves.  Others  clutched  the  long 
knives  that  lay  hidden  within  the  bosoms  of  their  flow- 
ing robes.  But  the  Babylonians  heeded  them  not,  being 
too  intent  upon  Lemuel  and  Elna,  who  were  now  forced 
to  ascend  to  the  rostrum.  As  they  did  so,  and  appeared 
on  high,  visible  to  all  that  thronged  the  square,  a  sud- 
den dead  silence  fell  upon  the  people.  Every  voice  was 
for  a  moment  hushed,  as  every  eye  fastened  upon  them 
to  behold  their  beauty  and  the  strange  courage  which 
had  surely  come  down  to  them  from  Heaven  itself. 
They  stood  there  side  by  side,  calm  and  resolute. 
Even  Elna  did 'not  tremble  or  show  the  least  symptom 
of  terror.  The  slave-merchant,  a  swarthy  Babylonian, 
stood  half-way  up  the  steps  of  the  rostrum.  The  guards 
were  beneath  him,  holding  their  shields  and  spears.  A 
trumpet  rang  out.  Then  an  official  mounted  the  steps 
at  the  back  of  the  rostrum  softly,  approached  the  place 
where  Elna  stood,  lifted  his  hand  and  took  from  her 
face  the  veil  which  had  covered  it  hitherto. 

A  cry  rose  from  the  crowd.  The  young  dandies 
strained  their  eyes  to  see  this  beauty  of  which  all 
Babylon  had  been  gossiping.  The  rabble  drew  in 
their  breath.  The  women  murmured.  And  Jediah, 
la}'ing  his  hand  upon  the  arm  of  Adoram,  uttered 
a  hoarse  ejaculation.  For  never  had  Elna  looked 
more  lovely,  as  she  stood  with  her  eyes  cast  down, 
the  coarse  garment  that  she  wore  half  revealing  the 
beautiful  lines  of  her  fair  limbs,  the  chains  hanging 

223 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

from  her  soft  and  delicate  arms,  and  the  flood  of  her 
magnificent  black  hair  flowing  about  her.  The  white- 
ness of  her  face  was  still  as  marble.  No  terror  con- 
vulsed it.  Her  soft  lips  were  set  together.  And  now, 
even  while  the  multitude  regarded  her,  she  lifted  up 
her  eyes  and  fixed  them  upon  Lemuel,  with  a  glance 
of  steadfast  trust  and  deep  love  that  moved  even  the 
coarse  and  hateful  hearts  of  the  dissipated  Baby- 
lonians. A  murmur  of  admiration  ran  from  mouth  to 
mouth,  growing  louder  and  louder.  The  young  dan- 
dies strove  to  move  nearer  to  the  rostrum,  but  the 
rabble  pressed  them  back,  heedless  now  of  rank  or 
state.  The  guards  extended  their  stout  shields  in  a 
wall  against  the  people  who  trampled  about  them,  and 
the  slave-merchant,  from  his  post  of  vantage  on  the 
steps  of  the  rostrum,  lifted  up  his  tremendous  voice 
and  cried  aloud — 

"  By  the  will  of  our  lord  the  king !" 

"  May  the  king  live  for  ever !"  shouted  the  people. 

The  shrouded  Israelites  pressed  a  little  closer  to  the 
steps. 

"  This  man  and  woman,"  cried  the  slave-merchant, 
"  until  now  free,  are  to  be  sold  to  whomsoever  shall 
bid  the  highest  price  ;  and  whosoever  shall  buy  them, 
it  is  by  our  lord  decreed  that  they  shall  keep  them  in 
bondage  to  be  their  slaves  so  long  as  they  may  will  it ; 
and  these  their  slaves  shall  be  obedient  unto  them  in 
all  things,  and  obey  them  without  a  murmur,  their 
masters  having  absolute  dominion  over  them  and 
power  to  punish,  even  unto  death,  their  disobedience. 
This  is  the  decree  of  our  lord  the  king — may  he  live 
224 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

for  ever!     This  woman  is  to  be  sold  first.     Who  is 
there  to  bid?" 

There  was  a  moment's  pause.  All  faces  were  turned 
towards  the  rostrum.  Lemuel  folded  his  arms  and  set 
his  lips  a  little  more  firmly  together.  His  eyes  re- 
garded Elna  with  a  passion  of  brave  pity  and  affec- 
tion. 

"  Who  is  there  to  buy  ?"  cried  the  slave-merchant 
again,  in  a  voice  of  thunder. 

And  he  looked  around  over  the  crowd. 

Jediah  raised  his  arm  and  forced  his  way  with  diffi- 
culty to  the  steps. 

"  A  purchaser !  a  purchaser !"  cried  many  voices. 

Elna  and  Lemuel,  noting  the  stir,  looked  down  and 
beheld  the  deathly  white  face  and  fierce,  glittering 
eyes  of  Jediah.  And,  for  the  first  time,  Elna  trembled 
and  seemed  for  a  moment  afraid. 

"  By  the  laws  of  Babylon,"  said  Jediah,  in  a  hard 
and  distinct  voice,  "  by  the  laws  of  Babylon,  the  pur- 
chaser hath  absolute  power  over  his  slaves  ?" 

"  By  the  laws  of  Babylon,"  cried  the  merchant, 
"and  by  the  will  of  our  lord  the  king." 

"  Even  unto  death  ?"  said  Jediah. 

"  I  have  said,"  returned  the  merchant. 

The  excitement  of  the  crowd  was  heightened  by  the 
sinister  question  of  Jediah. 

"  Death  ?"  they  cried.  "  What  meaneth  he  ?  What 
would  he  with  the  maiden  ?" 

Then  again  they  were  silent,  to  see  what  Jediah 
would  do.  He  stood  leaning  heavily  upon  his  staff,  in 
silence. 

15  225 


"Wilt  thou  bid  for  this  woman?"  asked  the  mer- 
chant. 

Then  Jediah  raised  his  voice  and  cried  aloud — 

"  I  bid  for  that  woman — an  hundred  pieces  of  silver." 

An  exclamation  broke  from  the  crowd.  The  slave- 
merchant  chuckled  with  satisfaction. 

"A  noble  commencement!"  cried  a  voice  in  the 
crowd. 

All  turned  to  the  direction  from  which  it  came,  and 
beheld  the  Lord  Alorus,  who  now  made  his  way 
towards  the  place  where  stood  Jediah. 

"A noble  commencement!"  Alorus  cried  again,  "but 
far  below  the  maiden's  price.  I  offer — five  hundred." 

Jediah  grasped  his  staff  harder,  and  his  livid  face 
took  an  ashen  tint. 

"  Six  hundred !"  he  cried. 

"  Seven !"  responded  Alorus,  laughing. 

"  Eight !"  shouted  Jediah. 

"  Nine !"  returned  Alorus. 

"  A  thousand !"  Jediah  said  hoarsely. 

"  Two  thousand !"  replied  Alorus. 

A  roar  broke  from  the  multitude,  who  pressed 
against  the  shields  of  the  guards.  They  were  fasci- 
nated by  this  contest  and  by  the  mention  of  these 
great  sums  of  money.  It  seemed  as  if  the  beggars 
smacked  their  lips  as  a  starving  man  does  when  he 
hears  of  the  delicious  food  eaten  by  others. 

"  Two  thousand !"  reiterated  Alorus,  disdainfully  re- 
turning the  frantic  gaze  of  Jediah,  whose  eyes  glared 
like  those  of  an  animal. 

"Two  thousand  pieces  of  silver  have  been  offered 
226 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

by  my  Lord  Alorus  for  this  maiden,"  vociferated  the 
slave-dealer.  "  Is  this  the  end— or  doth  any  here  bid 
more  ?" 

There  was  an  instant's  pause.  Then  Jediah,  speak- 
ing in  a  harsh  and  shaking  voice,  said — 

"  Two  thousand  five  hundred !" 

"Four  thousand!"  laughed  Alorus,  arranging  the 
bracelets  upon  his  arm.  "Four  thousand  for  this 
pretty  maiden  !  Four  thousand,  Israelite !" 

Jediah  was  now  gasping  for  breath,  like  unto  a  man 
who  is  taken  by  a  fit  or  who  is  wellnigh  suffocated. 
The  sweat  broke  forth  upon  his  forehead.  He  tottered 
and  caught  hold  of  one  of  the  guards  for  support. 

"  Four — thousand — five — five — hundred !"  he  stam- 
mered. 

"  My  lord  will  pardon  his  servant,"  said  the  slave- 
dealer,  bending  down  to  him.  "  But  my  Lord  Alorus 
hath  offered  four  thousand  pieces  of  silver  for  this 
maiden.  The  Lord  Alorus  is  known  to  me  and  unto 
all  Babylon.  But  thou  art  a  stranger.  It  may  be 
that  thou  hast  not  the  means  to  pay  the  sum  that 
thou  hast  named.  Hast  thou  indeed  as  much  with 
thee?" 

"Alas!"  groaned  Jediah,  "no.  I  have  it  not  here 
with  me." 

"  Then,"  returned  the  merchant,  "  the  maiden  is  the 
property  of  my  Lord  Alorus,  unless  thou  canst  name  a 
surety  that  thou  wilt  pay  in  full  the  sum  that  thou 
hast  offered." 

"  A  surety  ?"  said  Jediah,  speaking  as  a  man  that  is 
dazed.  "A  surety,  sayest  thou?" 

227 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  Ay,"  said  the  merchant.  "  Canst  thou  name  one 
who  will  be  thy  surety  for  the  full  value  thou  hast 
offered  ?" 

There  was  again  a  pause.  Jediah  bent  his  head 
upon  his  breast.  He  seemed  to  be  considering  deeply. 

"Well?"  said  the  merchant  impatiently.  "Well? 
Answerest  thou  nothing  ?" 

Jediah  lifted  his  head. 

"I  can  name  one,"  he  said  slowly,  "and  only  one 
who  knoweth  that  I  can  and  will  pay  the  sum  that  I 
have  named  for  purchase  of  this  maiden." 

"  Who  is  that  ?"  cried  the  merchant. 

"  My  Lord  Alorus,"  answered  Jediah. 

This  answer  struck  surprise  through  all  who  heard 
it.  Even  Alorus  was  moved  from  his  usual  affected 
manner  of  contemptuous  disdain.  He  clapped  his 
hand  on  his  girdle  with  a  gesture  of  astonishment, 
exclaiming — 

"I!  By  Baal!  Shall  I  arm  mine  enemy  that  he 
may  slay  me  ?" 

"Thou  dost  know  me!"  said  Jediah  passionately, 
"  and  what  this  maiden  is  to  me.  Thou  dost  seek  to 
take  her  from  me.  Let  the  fight  be  equal.  Be  thou 
my  surety !" 

These  words  caught  the  sense  of  justice,  the  love  of 
contest  that  lives  in  crowds.  The  people  pressed  fran- 
tically round,  vociferating — 

"  'Tis  well  said.  The  Israelite  speaks  truth.  Be  thou 
his  surety.  Let  the  fight  be  fair. 

"  Well,"  said  Alorus,  with  a  smile,  "  for  one  other  bid 
I  will,  but  not  for  one  shekel  more.  The  last  bid  was 

228 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

for  four  thousand  five  hundred  pieces  of  silver.  I  bid 
five  thousand.  And  for  thy  next  bid,  let  it  be  what  it 
may,  I  will  be  thy  surety.  Now — what  say'st  thou  ?" 

After  he  ceased  to  speak,  the  silence  was  intense. 
All  the  vast  multitude  stood  as  if  under  some  spell, 
gazing  at  Jediah,  who,  in  his  excitement,  had  mounted 
upon  the  steps  of  the  rostrum  close  to  the  slave-dealer. 
Elna  never  moved.  She  looked  like  some  lovely  statue 
of  terror.  For  now  her  calm  had  left  her.  The  fury 
of  Jediah,  his  determination  to  spend  all  that  he  had 
so  that  he  might  wreak  his  vengeance  upon  her,  shook 
the  depths  of  her  steadfast  soul.  Lemuel  too  was 
moved,  but  he  bore  himself  calmly.  Only  the  light  in 
his  eyes  showed  the  strength  of  his  excitement. 

Jediah,  clinging  to  the  balustrade  of  the  rostrum, 
shook  like  a  man  stricken  with  the  palsy.  He  moved 
his  white  lips  once  or  twice,  but  no  sound  came  from 
them. 

"  Five  thousand  !  I  have  spoken !"  cried  Alorus  tri- 
umphantly. "  The  maid  is " 

Jediah  raised  his  arms  on  high,  in  a  frantic  gesture 
as  if  he  would  tear  down  Elna  from  the  place  whereon 
she  stood,  high  above  him. 

"  I  bid  five  thousand  five  hundred !"  he  shrieked.  "  I 
can  no  more.  Five  thousand  and  five  hundred !" 

Alorus  burst  into  a  sneering  laugh. 

"  Six  thousand !"  he  exclaimed. 

There  was  a  wild  roar  from  the  crowd.  Jediah  stag- 
gered and  must  have  fallen,  had  not  Adoram  caught 
him  and  held  him  up. 

"  What  saith  my  lord  ?"  asked  the  slave-merchant. 
229 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  I  cannot — I  cannot  outbid  this  lord  for  her,"  said 
Jediah.  "  He  hath  surely  all  the  wealth  of  Babylon. 
But  I  will  buy  him — the  man  " — and  he  pointed  with 
his  trembling  hand  to  Lemuel.  "  He  shall,  at  least,  be 
mine.  I  can — no — more.  Water — give  me  water !" 

Adoram  handed  him  a  cup  filled  with  water.  He 
drained  it,  and,  dropping  his  hand,  let  the  cup  fall  upon 
the  steps  of  the  rostrum. 

"My  Lord  Alorus,"  said  the  slave-merchant,  "the 
maid  is  thine." 

"  Lemuel,"  murmured  Elna,  "  what  am  I  to  do  ?" 

"  For  the  moment,  whate'er  they  bid  thee,"  he  whis- 
pered. "  But  have  no  fear." 

"Now  the  man  is  offered,"  cried  the  merchant. 
"  Who  bids  for  the  man  ?" 

"  I  will,"  said  Jediah  to  Adoram,  "  if  it  costeth  me 
all  mine  inheritance.  For  where  he  goeth,  there  will 
she  surely  follow,  if  she  doth  live." 

"Fifty  pieces  of  silver!"  cried  a  voice  in  the 
crowd. 

"  Two  hundred !"  exclaimed  Meraioth,  the  Babylon- 
ish woman,  who  stood  with  the  Lord  Alorus. 

"  Three  hundred !"  cried  the  voice. 

"Five  hundred!"  retorted  Meraioth,  gazing  with 
favourable  eyes  upon  the  manly  glory  of  the  noble  face 
of  Lemuel. 

"  Six  hundred !"  said  Jediah,  calling  upon  all  his  en- 
ergy, and  bracing  himself  to  win  in  this  final  contest 
for  revenge. 

"  Seven !"  cried  the  voice. 

"Eight!"  said  Jediah  loudly. 
230 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"One  thousand!"  said  Meraioth,  becoming  greatly 
excited. 

"  Who  is  it  that  bids  against  us — against  me  and  this 
Israelite  ?"  she  whispered  to  Alorus. 

"  Nay,  I  know  not,"  he  said,  turning  to  gaze  upon 
the  seething  mass  of  people.  "  Some  woman  who 
hateth  thee,  perchance,  or  who  loveth  the  shepherd." 

"  Two  thousand  !"  cried  Jediah. 

"  Three !"  cried  Meraioth.  "  Three ! — three  thousand 
for  the  shepherd." 

Jediah's  countenance  was  contorted  with  rage.  He 
turned  on  Meraioth  like  some  wild  beast. 

"A  thousand  curses  light  on  the  Jezebel!"  he  ex- 
claimed furiously.  "  Three  thousand  five  hundred !" 

"Four  thousand!"  shrieked  Meraioth. 

"  Five  thousand !"  cried  Jediah,  in  a  voice  that  was 
hoarse  and  almost  inhuman  with  rage  and  excitement. 
"  Five  thousand  I" 

He  leaned  down  from  the  balustrade  to  which  he 
was  clinging,  and  gazing  with  a  desperate  defiance  into 
the  face  of  Meraioth,  snarled  out  again — 

"  Five  thousand !" 

She  fell  backward  a  step  towards  Alorus,  and  mur- 
mured— 

"  I  can  no  more !" 

Jediah  heard  the  words.  A  terrible  smile  of  tri- 
umph hovered  on  his  lips,  which  were  wet  with  blood 
where  his  teeth  had  bitten  them.  He  turned  to  the 
slave-dealer,  and,  shaking  one  hand  towards  the  place 
where  Lemuel  stood,  he  cried  fiercely — 

"  He  is  mine — mine — mine  !" 
231 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

But  even  as  he  spoke  the  words,  the  tall  and  majestic 
veiled  figure  of  a  woman  came  forward  to  the  foot  of 
the  steps  whereon  he  stood,  all  the  crowd,  as  with  one 
common  impulse,  making  way  for  her.  And  a  clear  and 
imperious  voice  said,  so  distinctly  that  it  was  audible 
far  off  to  the  more  distant  crowd — 

"Six  thousand!" 

Jediah  started  as  if  he  had  been  struck.  He  stared 
down  at  this  mysterious  opponent  almost  with  terror, 
and  the  smile  of  triumph  faded  from  his  face,  leaving 
it  grey  and  old  and  appalling  to  look  upon. 

"  Who  is  this  woman  ?"  he  whispered. 

But  nobody  gave  answer. 

"Six  thousand!"  repeated  the  woman,  raising  her  voice. 

"  Seven  thousand — seven !"  stammered  Jediah. 

"  Eight  thousand !"  said  the  woman  inflexibly. 

Exclamations  broke  from  the  crowd.  A  girl,  over- 
come with  excitement  and  emotion,  staggered  and 
fainted.  No  one  heeded  her.  All  eyes  were  fixed  on 
this  magnificent  veiled  figure  that  stood  up  like  some 
strange  and  superb  statue  of  resolution  before  the 
steps  on  which  Jediah  crouched,  rent  by  conflicting 
emotions  of  passion  and  terror. 

"  Eight  thousand !" 

Jediah  tottered  a  step  downward  towards  where  the 
woman  stood,  thrusting  his  head  forward  like  a  man 
who,  despite  himself,  draws  near  to  behold  some  hor- 
rible spectre  that  meets  him  on  his  path. 

"  I  demand  to  know  who  is  my  opponent,"  he  said, 
with  a  terrible  cry.  "  Let  her  unveil !  Let  me  behold 
her  face !" 

232 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

With  a  grand  and  sweeping  gesture  the  woman  cast 
back  her  veil. 

"  Behold  it,  then,  Jediah,  son  of  Zoar !"  she  answered, 
in  clear  and  ringing  tones  that  vibrated  with  an  intense 
bitterness  of  scorn. 

A  blind  man  who  stood  afar  among  the  crowd,  seized 
hold  of  his  neighbour  with  a  wild  exclamation.  The 
man,  a  Babylonian,  shook  him  roughly  off,  cursing  him. 

"  Ishtar !"  exclaimed  the  people  gathered  close  around 
the  rostrum. 

"  The  Lady  Ishtar !"  cried  even  the  guards  of  the 
king. 

"  Elcia !"  murmured  Jediah,  horror-stricken. 

For  one  moment  he  seemed  about  to  recoil,  to  turn 
away,  to  flee. 

"The  shepherd  is  Ishtar's,"  cried  the  Babylonians, 
"  he  is  to  the  Lady  Ishtar !" 

The  cry  ran  from  inoutb  to  mouth,  through  all  the 
vast  assemblage. 

"  Ishtar's !  Ishtar's !"  shouted  the  people. 

This  cry  pierced  to  the  very  soul  of  Jediah.  He 
glanced  up  at  Lemuel.  He  gazed  down  at  Ishtar, 
whose  eyes  were  fixed  upon  him  with  a  fire  of  inten- 
sity that  seemed  actually  to  burn  as  a  flame.  Then, 
gathering  his  forces  for  one  last  effort,  he  cried,  like 
one  demented — 

"  Ten  thousand !" 

"Twenty  thousand!"  said  the  cold  and  inflexible 
voice  of  Ishtar. 

Jediah  swayed  upon  the  steps.  His  eyes  were  blood- 
shot. Foam  broke  from  between  his  gnashing  teeth. 

233 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

He  extended  his  hands  as  if  to  clutch  Ishtar  by  the 
throat  and  strangle  her.  Then,  uttering  a  terrible, 
inarticulate  exclamation,  he  fell  senseless  into  the  arms 
of  Adoram. 

The  uproar  from  the  crowd  was  now  terrific.  Men 
fought  to  gain  a  nearer  view  of  the  extraordinary 
events  going  forward  around  the  rostrum.  Women 
shrieked  and  struggled  and  were  trodden  under  foot. 
The  people  who  had  been  hitherto  watching  from  the 
houses  now  descended  from  the  windows  and  poured 
into  the  market-place,  rendering  the  press  and  con- 
fusion more  dangerous  every  moment.  The  slave- 
merchant,  alarmed  by  the  riot,  hastily  cried  out — 

"  My  Lord  Alorus,  the  maid  is  thine.  Lady  Ishtar, 
Lemuel  the  shepherd  is  thine  own,  to  do  with  as  thou 
wilt.  Come  and  give  thy  bonds!  Swift,  for  the 
people  grow  dangerous.  Soldiers,  guard  well  your 
slaves !" 

He  turned  to  ascend  the  steps.  As  he  did  so,  Lemuel 
advanced  to  the  balustrade  and,  placing  his  two  hands 
upon  it,  despite  the  heavy  chains  that  hung  from  his 
wrists  and  almost  crippled  him,  shouted  in  a  voice  that 
rang  out  above  all  the  furious  exclamations  of  the 
surging  multitude — 

"  Sons  of  Israel !  Will  ye  see  this  daughter  of  your 
race  sold  into  infamy  and  slavery?" 

An  answering  shout  rose  up  from  the  Israelites  who 
had  crowded  round  the  tribune,  unheeded  in  the  gen- 
eral excitement. 

"Never!"  they  cried,  as  one  man.     "  Never!" 

"  Strike  then,"  shouted  Lemuel,  "  for  the  hour  hath 

234 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

come!  Strike  for  Israel — for  her  freedom  and  for 
thine  own  !  To  arms !  To  arms !  To  arms !" 

In  answer  to  his  inspiring  call,  the  Israelites  drew 
their  knives  and  grasped  their  staves  and  attacked 
with  fury  the  surging  Babylonians,  who,  utterly  unpre- 
pared for  the  assault,  driven  hither  and  thither  by 
their  own  comrades,  scarce  knew  how  to  defend  them- 
selves. Sabaal,  with  many  followers,  sprang  to  the 
rostrum,  covered  Elna  and  Lemuel  in  two  cloaks  which 
rendered  them  unrecognisable  and  concealed  their 
chains,  and  drew  them  hastily  down  into  the  midst 
of  the  crowd,  where  they  were  quickly  lost  to  view. 
Having  once  sunk  among  the  people,  who  were  all  in 
wild  confusion,  it  was  soon  possible  to  convey  them 
away  unnoticed,  and  following  the  onrush  of  the  fight- 
ing Israelites  and  Babylonians,  and  taking  swift  advan- 
tage of  every  opening  that  presented  itself,  to  gain 
one  of  the  verges  of  the  square,  and  finally  to  escape 
from  it  through  the  open  space  that  lay  beyond  the 
golden  statue  of  the  great  god  Bel. 

Meanwhile,  the  fury  and  terror  increased  in  the 
market-place  and  extended  through  the  city,  assuming 
the  proportions  of  a  formidable  and  dangerous  riot. 
The  Babylonian  soldiers  were  called  out,  and  the  king 
himself  trembled  within  his  palace.  Many  of  the 
Babylonians,  long  accustomed  to  ease  and  to  every  form 
of  refinement  and  debauchery,  fled  before  the  passion 
of  the  Israelites.  The  gates  of  the  temples  and  of  the 
magnificent  mansions  of  the  nobles  were  locked  and 
barred.  Women  hid  themselves  in  inner  chambers. 
And  the  night  fell  upon  a  tumult  that  was  almost 

235 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

like  unto  the  seething  of  demons  in  the  pit  of  hell 
itself. 

The  lower  Babylonians,  profiting  by  the  general  dis- 
organisation, broke  into  the  bazaars  and  shops,  looted, 
plundered,  and  drank.  Even  the  soldiers  gave  them- 
selves up  to  the  wildest  excesses. 

And  Ishtar,  leaning  late  upon  the  balustrade  of  her 
garden  terrace,  and  looking  out  over  the  lighted  city, 
from  which  rose  confused  shouts  of  fury,  shrieks  of 
despair,  the  clash  of  arms,  the  beating  of  the  enormous 
war-drums,  and  the  piercing  calls  of  trumpets — seeing 
the  flames  leaping  up  from  burning  buildings  and,  min- 
gled with  volumes  of  smoke,  mounting  towards  the 
stars — Ishtar  said  unto  herself — 

"  Can  it,  indeed,  be  true  ?  Are  the  days  of  Babylon 
indeed  numbered  ?  Is  the  God  of  Israel  wroth  with  the 
heathen,  and  shall  He  send  down  His  fury  to  consume 

this  people  ?  And  I— I Whither  shall  I  go  ?  Ah, 

Lemuel,  Lemuel !" 

She  laid  her  forehead  upon  the  cold  marble,  and  as 
the  flames  from  the  burning  quarters  of  the  city 
sprang  up  still  higher,  as  if  they  would  reach  the 
mighty  walls  of  her  palace,  she  wept  at  last  as  if  all 
the  troubles  of  the  years  came  trooping  about  her  in 
the  night;  as  if  her  soul — which  had  struggled  so 
long  against  despair,  giving  itself  to  the  spectre  called 
lust,  and  to  the  phantom  named  pleasure— could  no 
longer  strive,  or  fight,  or  hope,  or  disdain,  but  could 
only  grovel  in  the  dust,  and  faint  in  a  hopeless  desire 
of  forgiveness  and  of  peace  ! 


236 


CHAPTER  XIII 

THREE  days  had  passed.  The  riot  in  the  city  had 
been,  with  difficulty,  subdued.  The  flames  of  the  con- 
flagration, ignited  by  the  refuse  of  the  Babylonians 
themselves,  had  been  quenched.  Comparative  quietude 
had  been  restored.  Not  yet  was  the  prophecy  of  Lem- 
uel in  the  palace  garden  of  Ishtar  to  come  true.  Not 
yet  was  the  mighty  city  doomed  to  destruction.  But 
the  rising  of  the  Israelites,  the  rescue  of  their  hero, 
the  shepherd  Lemuel,  his  escape — temporary,  perhaps, 
but  for  the  moment  certain — all  these  events  spread 
through  Babylon  a  grave  disquietude,  a  growing  sense 
of  uneasiness  and  of  insecurity,  which  was  accentuated 
by  the  fact  that  a  large  number  of  Persians  inhabiting 
the  city  had  joined  actively  in  the  revolt,  and  that  the 
Babylonian  soldiers  had  shown  themselves  cowardly 
and  indifferent  to  the  dangers  of  the  king  and  of  his 
capital.  They  too,  like  the  nobles,  the  higher  func- 
tionaries, and  the  priests,  were  undermined,  body  and 
soul,  by  indulgence  and  by  pride.  Believing  them- 
selves to  be  under  the  special  protection  of  the  great 
gods,  and  so  invincible,  they  took  little  heed  of  disci- 
pline or  of  manly  exercises  at  this  period,  but  loved 
the  wine-cup  and  worshipped  women.  In  a  time  of 
peace  they  bore  themselves  brilliantly  enough  in  their 
shining  armour.  They  had  a  martial  outside,  the 

237 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

gallant  swagger  that  imposes  upon  the  ignorant  and 
catches  the  favour  of  maidens.  But  even  this  rising 
brought  their  inherent  weakness  and  rottenness  plainly 
to  the  view  of  all  who  were  not  blinded  by  the  tinsel 
trappings  of  an  apparent  glory,  or  lulled  in  the  radiant 
dreams  that  only  come  with  a  sleep  that  is  dangerous, 
if  not  deadly. 

Far-seeing  men  were,  however,  rare  in  Babylon. 
And  already,  in  three  days,  the  rising  was  almost  for- 
gotten. A  few  Israelites  had  fled ;  a  few  had  been 
thrown  into  prison.  But,  owing  to  the  riotous  be- 
haviour of  the  Babylonians  themselves,  it  had  been 
extremely  difficult  to  discover  the  ringleaders  of  the 
tumult.  Already  people  talked  of  other  things.  Al- 
ready the  great  god,  Pleasure,  resumed  his  interrupted 
sway,  and  in  the  palace  of  the  Lord  Alorus — as  in  the 
other  palaces  of  Babylon — there  was  feasting  and  mer- 
riment as  there  had  ever  been. 

It  was  afternoon.  Within  a  magnificent  chamber 
of  his  palace,  Alorus  sat  with  his  friend  Menanahim, 
drinking  wine  and  gossiping  of  the  events  that  had 
been  passing.  Both  men  preserved  their  habitual  air 
of  dandified  complacence.  Their  calm  had  apparently 
been  in  nowise  disturbed.  Their  gaiety  was  in  nowise 
ruffled.  Or  so  it  seemed  at  the  first,  as  they  talked 
lazily,  while  the  silver  water  of  the  fountains  rose  and 
fell  on  the  scented  air,  and  the  slaves,  kneeling  before 
them,  cooled  their  tinted  faces  with  the  waving  fans  of 
feathers  set  in  polished  ivory.  Yet,  now  and  then,  a 
shadow  crossed  the  impudent  countenance  of  Alorus, 
and  he  moved  a  little  restlessly  upon  his  golden  seat. 

238 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

And  when,  presently,  a  slave  entered  running,  he 
turned  and  cried — 

"  Well,  well  ?  And  hast  thou  heard  nothing  further 
of  these  Israelites  ?" 

"  No,  my  lord,"  replied  the  slave  humbly.  "  The 
soldiers  say  they  seemed  to  vanish  into  thin  air." 

Alorus  struck  his  hands  together  with  an  impatient 
gesture. 

"  The  soldiers !"  he  exclaimed.  "  By  Baal,  and  what 
do  they  know  or  care  ?  They  think  of  naught  save  of 
feasting  and  revelry.  Go,  go!  But  be  within  hail. 
Thou  nearest  ?" 

The  slave  made  a  low  obeisance  and  softly  retreated. 
Alorus  rose  up  from  his  seat  and  paced  restlessly  to  and 
fro  about  the  chamber. 

"Any  pretext!"  he  muttered.  "Any  pretext  to 
cover  negligence !  A  prisoner  escapes.  Oh,  he  took 
unto  himself  wings — he  disappeared  in  fire  or  vanished 
in  a  cloud." 

"  Nay,"  rejoined  Menanahim,  "  the  vulgar  are  ever 
superstitious." 

As  if  struck  by  a  sudden  recollection,  he  jumped  up 
hastily  and  made  a  fantastic  inclination  before  some 
golden  effigies  of  the  gods  of  Babylon  that  stood  upon 
an  altar  of  marble  in  the  chamber. 

"  May  the  great  god  Bel  banish  the  Seven  from  thy 
house !"  he  cried,  with  an  affected  exaggeration  of  piety. 
Then  he  added,  resuming  his  former  tone — 

"  The  Lady  Ishtar  hath  a  hand  in  this." 

"  Thinkest  thou  ?"  rejoined  Alorus.  "  Nay,  then,  for 
hand  say  heart.  And,  truly,  wonderful  is  the  heart  of 

239 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

woman.     Like  as  the  wind,  it  goeth  where  it  listeth, 
and  all  in  vain  we  seek  the  reason  why." 

"  Reason !"  cried  Menanahim.  "  He  who  seeketh 
reason  in  a  woman  seeketh  his  own  confusion.  As  well 
seek  to  number  the  sands  of  the  sea.  Where  women 
are  concerned  a  man  must  take  what  the  gods  do  give 
him,  with  much  thankfulness  and  without  question.  I 
never  question — and  am  ever  grateful." 

"  I  would  be  grateful  too,"  said  Alorus,  still  pacing  up 
and  down,  "  did  the  gods  give  me  the  woman  I  desire." 

"Ah,"  said  Menanahim,  speaking  now  with  an  ansemic 
bitterness,  "ah,  desire  no  woman,  but  all  women — so 
shalt  thou  escape  much  tribulation." 

"  For  the  sake  of  some  women,  tribulation  becomes 
a  joy,"  cried  Alorus.  "  He  who  hath  not  seen  such 
hath  no  sight.  I  have  mine  eyes,  and  mine  eyes  do 
guide  my  heart." 

"P'f!"  sneered  Menanahim,  "heart!  What  is  that? 
Heart?  I  deem  that  old  Khasis-a-dra  forgot  to  include 
those  encumbrances  among  the  strange  things  he  took 
into  his  ark,  and  that  the  Deluge  destroyed  them." 

A  slave  entered. 

"  What  is  it  ?  What  desirest  thou  ?"  cried  Alorus 
impatiently.  "  Cannot  I  be  left  in  peace  even  for  one 
moment  ?" 

"  It  is  the  Lady  Ishtar,"  said  the  slave  submissively. 

"  Ishtar!"  said  Alorus.     "  Go;  escort  her  hither." 

The  slave  withdrew.  Alorus  turned  to  Menanahim, 
who  had  sprung  up  from  the  couch  on  which  he  had 
been  extended  by  a  table,  on  which  stood  fruit,  wine, 
and  confections  in  boxes  and  trays  of  silver. 

240 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Here  cometh  a  woman,"  said  Alorus,  "  who  hath 
found  that  very  thing — the  heart — of  which  thou  dost 
doubt  the  existence." 

Menanahim's  lips  curled  in  a  bitter  sneer,  but  he  said 
nothing,  for  at  this  moment  there  was  heard  the  rus- 
tling of  a  robe,  and  Ishtar  herself  entered,  attended  by 
two  female  slaves. 

"  Hail,  Lady  Ishtar !"  cried  Menanahim,  bending  low 
before  her.  "  Hail !  Thou  art  radiant  as  Samas,  the 
sun-god,  himself!" 

Ishtar  bowed  her  head  coldly.  She  was  dressed  with 
an  unusual  simplicity  in  a  robe  of  dull  blue  silk,  that 
looked  almost  black  where  it  fell  into  folds.  And  she 
wore  no  jewels  of  any  kind. 

The  two  men  regarded  her  with  some  astonishment. 

"  Where  are  thy  jewels,  Ishtar  ?"  said  Alorus. 

"  And  where  thy "  began  Menanahim. 

But  she  stopped  him  with  an  imperious  gesture. 

"  I  would  speak  with  thee  alone,  O  Alorus,"  she  said. 

An  expression  of  gratified  surprise  came  into  the 
face  of  Alorus.  He  cast  a  side  glance  towards  a  mirror 
of  steel  that  stood  near,  and  mechanically  passed  his 
ringed  hands  through  his  perfumed  hair. 

"Alone!"  he  exclaimed.  "I  am  indeed  highly 
favoured." 

Menanahim  scowled. 

"  Thrice-blessed  Alorus !"  he  said,  with  a  feeble  at- 
tempt to  conceal  his  anger. 

He  drew  a  little  closer  to  Ishtar. 

"  Shall  I  tell  thee,  lady,"  he  said,  "  what  the  Lord 
Alorus  hath  just  said  of  thee?" 
16  241 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Naught  evil,  I  trust  ?"  said  Ishtar  indifferently. 

"  It  is  a  matter  of  doubt,  lady.  He  hath  told  me 
that — that  thou  hast  found  that  most  rare  of  earthly 
things — a  heart." 

The  look  of  indifference  left  Ishtar's  face  and  was 
replaced  by  an  expression  of  glorious  pride. 

"He  speaketh  truth,"  she  answered,  in  a  ringing 
voice.  "I  have  found  a  heart  indeed.  And  know, 
O  Menanahim,  that  it  is  mine  own !" 

As  she  spoke  she  looked  him  full  in  the  eyes,  and  she 
seemed  almost  like  one  transformed — like  one  who 
stood  in  some  strange  and  glowing  radiance.  Never 
before  had  she  appeared  so  wondrously  beautiful.  For 
now  to  the  beauty  of  face  and  form,  of  deep  eyes  and 
exquisite  limbs,  of  noble  bearing  and  of  incomparable 
grace,  there  was  added  a  wonder  of  the  spirit,  a  beauty 
of  soul,  an  intensity  of  sublime  emotionalism  that  up- 
lifted her,  and  seemed  verily  to  set  her  on  high,  as  on 
some  throne  from  which  she  gazed  down  upon  the 
earth  below.  And  yet  there  was  no  insolence  of 
worldly  pride  in  her  now,  but  a  species  of  thrilling 
humility,  a  white  fire  of  modesty  and  of  most  delicate 
tenderness  and  patience.  Menanahim  gazed  upon  her 
with  a  kind  of  brutish  wonder. 

"Ishtar's  heart!"  he  said  slowly.  "Great  Bell 
What  is  its  price  ?" 

He  looked  at  Alorus,  and  then  back  again  to  Ishtar. 

"  Emeralds  and  pearls  can  scarcely  buy  the  lips  of 
Ishtar,"  he  continued.  "  What  mine  of  rubies  hath 
purchased  her  heart  ?" 

"  It  hath  not  been  purchased,"  said  Ishtar.  "  Eeck- 
242 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

less,  foolish  merchant  that  I  am,  I  have  given  it 
away." 

As  she  spoke  a  beautiful  flush  crept  into  her  white 
cheeks ;  and,  for  the  first  time,  she  cast  down  her  great 
eyes  as  one  half  ashamed. 

Menanahim  regarded  her  with  a  growing  irritation 
and  amazement. 

"  Foolish,  indeed  !"  he  exclaimed.  "  Take  heed,  fair 
merchant,  that  he  who  received  the  gift  of  thy  mer- 
chandise doth  not  estimate  its  value  at  the  price  he 
paid  for  it." 

And  he  laughed  bitterly.  But  Ishtar  answered,  with 
a  beautiful  and  profound  melancholy — 

"  And  if  he  did,  who  shall  deny  his  judgment  ?  For 
who  would  believe  in  Ishtar's  love  ?  Who  would  have 
faith  in  Ishtar's  constancy?" 

"At  least  I  cannot,"  cried  Menanahim,  whose 
wounded  vanity  had  never  forgiven  the  slight  Ishtar 
had  put  upon  him  when  she  preferred  Lemuel  to  him, 
and  bade  Lemuel  lie  at  her  feet  while  the  slave  girls 
danced  in  the  moonbeams  in  the  palace  garden. 

"Thou!"  said  Ishtar,  with  a  scorn  she  did  not  at- 
tempt to  conceal. 

Menanahim  opened  his  lips  to  speak.  The  red  blood 
of  anger  rose  beneath  the  dye  with  which  his  weak 
and  sensual  face  was  covered.  He  seemed  about  to 
make  an  angry  rejoinder.  But  he  checked  himself, 
assumed  a  smile  of  contempt  which  could  not  conceal 
his  disappointed  jealousy,  and  caught  up  the  flowing 
garment  he  wore  with  his  white  and  eifeminate  hand. 

"  Ishtar's  eyes  are  clouded,"  he  said,  with  a  travesty 

243 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

of  dandified  courtliness.  "  The  moon  is  passing  'twixt 
the  earth  and  the  sun,  and  all  the  land  is  dark.  I  do 
not  love  the  dark  nor  any  creeping  thing  that  is  en- 
gendered by  it.  And  so  farewell,  my  Lady  Ishtar." 

He  swept  a  bow,  to  which  she  scarcely  deigned  to 
respond  by  a  slight  inclination  of  her  head.  Then  he 
cried  out,  with  a  sort  of  weak  defiance — 

"I  go  to  other  beauties!  I  go  to  seek  the  sun!" 
and  walked  airily  out  of  the  chamber,  turning  at  the 
doorway  to  shoot  one  glance  of  bitter  hatred  at 
Ishtar. 

She  did  not  even  see  it.  But  as  he  disappeared  be- 
hind the  drapery  that  hung  before  the  doorway,  she 
said  to  Alorus,  with  a  sigh  as  if  of  great  relief — 

"He  seeketh  the  sun!  So  do  all  butterflies,  and 
when  they  find  it  not  they  die  or  vanish." 

Then  turning  to  her  slaves,  who  waited  behind  her, 
immobile  as  statues,  she  said  unto  them — 

"  "Wait  me  without." 

They  saluted  and  obeyed  her  command,  leaving  her 
and  Alorus  alone  in  the  chamber. 

"  What  unaccustomed  grace  is  here  ?"  he  asked,  in 
growing  wonderment.  "  For  the  first  time  I  am  alone 
with  thee,  Ishtar — a  boon  thou  hast  ever  refused  me 
until  now." 

"Because  I  have  ever  valued  thy  friendship,"  she 
replied  slowly.  "A  man  forgets  all  friendship  when 
he  finds  himself  alone  with  a  woman." 

She  fixed  her  great  and  melancholy  eyes  upon  him 
as  if  she  would  read  his  heart. 

"  Is  it  not  so  ?"  she  asked. 
244 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

Alorus  felt  uneasy  beneath  her  searching  gaze,  he 
scarce  knew  why. 

"  Prove  it,"  he  answered.  "  We  are  alone.  Ask 
of  my — friendship  any  favour.  What  would' st  thou, 
lady  ?" 

Ishtar,  with  a  sudden  and  swift  movement,  ap- 
proached him  and  laid  her  hand  upon  his  arm. 

"  I  would  have  this  slave  girl  whom  thou  hast  pur- 
chased," she  said. 

Alorus  started  with  amazement. 

"  EIna  ?"  he  cried.     "  But  she  hath  fled." 

"  That  I  know.  But  Babylon's  arms  are  far-reach- 
ing enough  to  clasp  her  and  to  bring  her  back  again 
to  thee." 

Alorus  pursed  his  lips  and  hunched  his  shoulders. 

"Truly,"  he  said.  "But — perchance  a  little  de- 
creased in  value.  Her  companion " 

"  I  understand,"  exclaimed  Ishtar,  interrupting  him. 
"But  then  the  less  valuable,  the  easier  parted  with. 
Is  it  not  so  ?" 

"  Not  so  fast,  dear  lady,  not  so  fast,"  returned  Alorus, 
smiling.  "  Less  valuable  doth  not  mean  valueless." 

"  Is  she,  indeed,  so  precious  unto  thee  ?"  asked  Ishtar. 

And  there  was  an  unwonted  accent  of  pleading  in 
her  voice. 

"  Well,  she  will  cost  me  six  thousand  pieces  of  silver 
at  the  least." 

"  If  I  refund  thee  the  full  price  ?"  said  Ishtar,  with 
increasing  insistence. 

"  Well,"  replied  Alorus,  "to  tell  the  very  truth,  lady, 
I  would  rather  thou  did'st  refund  my  slave." 

245 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

Ishtar  turned  from  him  with  obvious  impatience. 

"What  is  it  governs  a  man?"  she  cried,  stamping 
her  foot  upon  the  ground. 

"  Tis  hard  to  tell,"  said  Alorus,  with  most  unruffled 
composure  and  his  most  effeminate  air  of  dandyism. 
"  Say  instinct.  We  are  but  brutes  at  the  best." 

Ishtar  swept  round  upon  him. 

"  And  at  the  worst  ?"  she  cried. 

Alorus  bowed  before  her  with  suave  mockery. 

"  Can  Alorus  instruct  Ishtar  ?"  he  said. 

For  a  moment  Ishtar  was  deadly  silent.  Her  cheeks 
flushed,  then  turned  pale.  Her  lovely  bosom  heaved, 
and  angry  tears  swam  in  her  eyes.  Then  she  lifted 
up  her  right  arm  with  a  magnificent  gesture  as  of 
one  invoking  the  judgment  of  Heaven  itself,  and  said 
in  a  voice  that  thrilled  with  passion  and  quivered  with 
intensity — 

"Ah!  accursed,  thrice  accursed  be  the  man  who 
made  Ishtar  what  she  was !" 

Even  as  she  spoke  the  words,  the  hideous  form  of 
Migdapul,  the  god-seller,  appeared  for  a  moment  in 
the  aperture  of  the  doorway,  then  swiftly  and  silently 
drew  back  into  the  shadow. 

"  Was  ?"  said  Alorus.     "  And  is !" 

"  Nay,"  cried  Ishtar,  with  ever-increasing  vehemence, 
"  was — was — and  never  again  will  be." 

Alorus  threw  himself  down  upon  a  couch  and  took 
up  a  fan,  which  he  began  to  wave  slowly  to  and  fro. 

"  What  hath  changed  Ishtar  ?"  he  asked,  laughing 
lightly. 

"A  good  man's  pure  love,"  she  answered,  with  a 
246 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

grave  sincerity,  and  lingering  on  the  words  as  if  they 
were  dear  to  her  lips. 

"  For  thee  ? "  cried  Alorus.  "  For  thee,  most  pure 
and  innocent  Ishtar?" 

"  Alas,  no !"  she  said,  heedless  of  the  taunt.  "  Not 
for  me.  For  another." 

Alorus  laid  down  the  fan,  took  up  a  vase  containing 
a  perfume  brought  from  the  western  region  of  India, 
and  poured  some  upon  his  hands. 

"  And  a  good  man's  pure  love,"  he  said  banteringly, 
"I  marvel  much  what  that  is  like!  A  good  man's 
pure  love — for  another — hath  changed  proud  Ishtar's 
lifer 

"  Doth  not  pure  love  exist  in  man  ?"  she  said. 

"  It  did,  doubtless,  before  the  Fall." 

"  Alas  for  man's  fall !" 

Alorus  heaved  an  ostentatious  sigh,  leaning  back 
upon  his  cushions. 

"  Alas  for  the  woman  who  did  occasion  that  fall !"  he 
said. 

"  The  serpent  was  the  cause,"  said  Ishtar. 

"  Ah !"  chuckled  Alorus,  "  I  have  ever  had  my  doubts 
as  to  the  sex  of  that  same  serpent.  But,  at  any  rate, 
lady,  after  the  serpent,  the  woman " 

"  The  man  should  have  resisted  the  temptation." 

"  Ah,  women  would  have  men  resist  all  temptations 
— save  only  their  own  !" 

"  I  am  not  come  hither  to  argue  such  matters,"  said 
Ishtar  impatiently,  "  but  to  implore  thee — let  me  have 
this  slave  Elna  as  mine  own." 

"  Thou  asketh  much  of  me,  Ishtar,"  said  Alorus. 
247 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

His  manner  suddenly  became  more  grave.  He  rose 
up  from  the  couch  whereon  he  had  been  lying,  and 
approached  her. 

"  "What  givest  thou  to  me  in  return  ?"  he  said  sig- 
nificantly. 

She  moved  a  step  backward. 

"  What  would'st  thou  ?"  she  said. 

And  in  her  voice,  as  she  asked  the  question,  there 
was  a  note  of  proud  and  impenetrable  reserve. 

"  A  fair  substitute,"  he  said,  following  her. 

"  Whom  ?"  she  asked. 

"  Ishtar !" 

"  Ah,  no  1"  she  said  inflexibly.  "  Thou  did'st  prom- 
ise me  a  boon  and  would'st  make  a  bargain.  Give  me 
this  girl,  Alorus." 

"  Thou  hast  the  man — leave  me  the  woman,"  he  said, 
more  coldly. 

But  Ishtar  was  strangely  persistent. 

"Nay,"  she  said,  "grant  me  this.  Give  me  this 
maid^  thy  slave." 

"  What  would'st  thou  gain  by  that  ?" 

"  Revenge,"  said  Ishtar  quietly. 

Alorus  looked  into  her  face  curiously. 

"  Why  !"  he  said,  "  woulti'st  thou  slay  her  ?" 

"Indeed,  nay." 

"  And  how,  then,  wilt  thou  compass  this  revenge  ?" 

For  a  moment  Ishtar  stood  silent.  Then  she  said, 
with  a  grave  simplicity — 

"  Even  by  giving  Elna  unto  the  man  she  doth  love." 

"  To  Lemuel !"  cried  Alorus,  in  astonishment. 

"  Even  to  Lemuel." 

248 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

Alorus  was  so  much  amazed  by  this  determination 
of  Ish tar's  that  he  was  unable  to  speak.  Twice  he 
opened  his  lips,  and  twice  closed  them  again  without 
uttering  a  syllable.  But  at  last,  with  a  great  effort,  he 
cried — 

"  But  thou  lovest  him !" 

Ishtar  bowed  her  head. 

"  Still  would  I  do  this  thing." 

"  But— but  why  ?" 

"That  when  I  am  gone— as  soon  I  shall  be — he 
may  think  that  the  vile  thing  that  once  was  Ishtar 
was,  after  all,  a  woman,  and  one  who  loved  him  better 
than  her  life,  better  than  herself.  Give  me  this  maid. 
Oh,  give  her  to  me,  Alorus !" 

And  she  sank  down  upon  her  knees  at  his  feet  and 
bowed  her  proud  head,  catching  his  robe  with  her  soft 
and  beautiful  hands,  which  had  been  clasped  so  often 
in  admiration  and  in  love. 

"Give  her  to  me.  For  thee  she  is  but  a  passing 
fancy.  For  him  she  is  the  whole  of  life.  Grant  me  my 
prayer  and  give  her  to  me — give  her  to  me !" 

And  she  laid  her  forehead  against  his  knees,  while 
great  sobs  shook  her  fair  body. 

Alorus  stood  looking  down  upon  her.  He  felt  the 
feverish  pressure  of  her  hands  on  his,  the  touch  of  her 
forehead  that  was  bent  down  like  the  forehead  of  some 
slave  girl  who  was  his  chattel.  He  saw  the  movement 
of  that  bosom  on  which  all  men  longed  to  rest.  He 
heard  the  sound  of  her  tears,  the  tears  of  her  who 
was  named  the  proudest  woman  in  all  Babylon.  And, 
despite  himself,  he  was  moved.  Some  strange  emotion 

249 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

stirred  within  him,  some  strange  impulse  of  pity,  of 
tenderness,  of  a  devotion  that  was  almost  chivalrous, 
that  seemed  to  come  from  the  centre  of  that  thing  at 
which  he  had  so  lately  laughed,  which,  by  his  life,  he 
had  ever  striven  to  kill — a  human  heart.  He  bent  down 
to  Ishtar,  and,  unfelt,  unknown  by  her,  touched  her 
dark  head  with  his  lips.  Then  he  said,  in  a  voice  that 
shook  slightly,  though  he  strove  to  make  it  hard  and 

gay— 

"  By  Anatu  and  all  the  female  gods  !  but  I  am  only 

half  a  man  myself.  Here  are  tears — and — and 

There !  tell  it  not  in  Babylon,  I  beseech  thee,  but  thine 
example  hath  left  me  no  course  but  to  follow  it.  Rise, 
Ishtar!" 

And,  as  he  spoke,  he  gently  lifted  her  to  her  feet. 

"  Rise.  Thy  prayer  is  granted,  and  Elna,  my  slave, 
shall  be  thine." 

"  The  God  of  Israel  for  ever  bless  thee !"  exclaimed 
Ishtar,  kissing  his  hand.  "I  am  thy  grateful  ser- 
vant." 

"  The  God  of  Israel  ?"  said  Alorus.  "  Can  His  bless- 
ing avail  aught?  Well,  maybe.  But  I  still  look  to 
Bel." 

He  bent  and,  in  his  turn,  kissed  the  hand  of  Ishtar. 
Then  he  said,  more  gaily — 

"  But,  as  thou  art  grateful,  never  remind  me  of  this. 
Let  me  forget  that  I  could  with  so  much  ease  play  the 
fool,  like  a  raw  youth  unknown  of  the  town.  Men 
love  to  be  fooled  by  women,  but  love  not  to  be  re- 
minded of  it  when  the  fooling  is  past  and  gone." 

"  Sign  me  the  acquittance !"  exclaimed  Ishtar.  "  Let 
250 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

me  give  them  both  their  liberty,  lest  Jediah  do  find 
them  and  some  evil  thing  befall.  Come !  Come !" 

And  she  moved  towards  the  door. 

"  I  come,  I  come,"  he  answered.  "  I  am  but  as  clay 
in  the  hands  of  the  potter.  Mould  me  as  thou  wilt, 
but  leave  in  the  shaping  a  little  to  show  that  this 
vessel  was  at  one  time — a  man." 

He  turned  to  follow  her,  but  ere  they  could  reach 
the  doorway  Migdapul  suddenly  appeared  from  behind 
the  drapery  where  he  had  lain  concealed. 

"  What  dost  thou  here  ?"  said  Ishtar. 

Migdapul  made  a  low  and  grotesque  obeisance. 

"  I  have  obeyed  thy  commands,  lady,"  he  said.  "  I 
would  have  told  thee  sooner  by  some  minutes, — for  I 
am  ever  swifter  to  execute  orders  than  all  the  other 
knaves  of  the  city, — but  I  feared  to  interrupt  thee  and 
the  noble  Lord  Alorus." 

Alorus  and  Ishtar  exchanged  a  glance,  and  Alorus 
shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  What  is  thy  news?"  said  Ishtar. 

"Lemuel  and  the  maid  Elna — forced  thereto,  as  I 
believe,  by  Sabaal  and  other  Israelites — have  fled  the 
city." 

"  Art  sure  ?"  cried  Ishtar. 

"  They  escaped  by  one  of  the  city  towers — I  myself 
saw  them." 

"  In  what  direction  went  they  ?" 

"  Towards  the  plains." 

"Towards  the  plains?"  said  Ishtar.  "By  what 
road?" 

"By  the  same   road  that  taketh  the  noble  Lord 

251 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

Alorus  when  he  goeth  to  gather  in  tribute  from  the 
wealthy  tribe  of  Zoar." 

And  Migdapul  made  a  second  obeisance  to  Alorus, 
showing  his  pointed  tusks  of  teeth  in  an  insidious 
smile. 

"They  are  fled  to  the  tents  of  their  people,"  said 
Alorus  to  Ishtar. 

Ishtar  had  become  very  pale,  and  she  now  laid  her 
hand  upon  the  edge  of  the  couch  on  which  Alorus  had 
been  reclining,  as  if  she  needed  support. 

"  But  if  Jediah  should "  she  began. 

Then  she  glanced  at  Migdapul,  set  her  lips,  and  was 
silent. 

"  Jediah  hath  also  left  the  city,  lady,"  said  Migdapul. 

"  Following  them  ?"  she  cried,  turning  swiftly  upon 
him. 

The  god-seller,  as  if  startled  by  her  flash  of  emotion, 
recoiled  a  step  or  two,  and  his  evil  face  was  overspread 
by  a  horrible  expression  of  cringing  and  servile  cun- 
ning. Ishtar  looked  at  him  for  a  moment  in  speaking 
silence.  Then,  struck  by  a  new  idea,  she  advanced 
upon  him  and  cried — 

"How  knew  Jediah  the  Israelite  which  way  went 
Lemuel  and  the  maiden  Elna  ?" 

"  I — I  know  not,  lady,"  stammered  Migdapul.  "  Thy 
slave  is  not  a  god.  He — he — can — cannot " 

"  Thou  did'st  tell  him !"  exclaimed  Ishtar,  still  keep- 
ing her  glowing  eyes  fastened  upon  Migdapul. 

"  Nay — indeed " 

"  Thou  did'st  1  I  can  read  it  in  thy  face.  What  did 
he  give  thee  ?" 

252 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Nay,  lady,  but  three  pieces  of  silver,"  cried  Migda- 
pul  lamentably.  "  He  was  ever  a  mean  man.  Long 
ago,  when  I  did  lure  Johanan " 

He  stopped  short.  The  expression  that  had  rushed 
into  the  face  of  Ishtar  terrified  him,  long  used  as  he 
was  to  all  crime  and  fear  and  agony. 

"  Johanan  ?"  she  said  in  a  low  and  tense  voice. 
"  Speak  !  What  dost  thou  say  ?" 

"  Naught,  lady — naught.     I  will — even — go." 

And  he  turned  towards  the  doorway.  But,  with 
one  bound,  Ishtar  planted  herself  in  front  of  it  and 
barred  his  egress  with  her  outstretched  arms. 

"  Speak,  slave !"  she  said,  bending  upon  him  all  the 
fiery  and  searching  inquiry  of  her  terrible  eyes. 
"  Thou — thou  did'st  lure  Johanan — whither,  and  for 
what  purpose?  I  tell  thee  that  I  will  have  thee 
thrown  into  the  dungeon — I  will  have  thee  slain,  if 
thou  dost  not  speak !" 

Migdapul  fell  down  upon  the  floor,  grovelling  before 
her. 

"  He — Jediah — forced  me  to  it !"  he  wailed.  "  I  was 
ever  a  kindly  man — I  would  not  hurt  a  fly,  but — 
but " 

"  But  thou  did'st " 

"  I  did  but  put  Johanan  in  the  way  of  a  good  trade, 
lady,  of  a  trade  that  is  of  more  profit  than  god-selling, 
as  all  Babylon  doth  know." 

"  A  trade  ?"  said  Ishtar,  with  ever-growing  horror. 
"What  trade?" 

"  The  trade  of  the  blind  man,"  groaned  forth  Mig- 
dapul. 

253 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

With  a  hoarse  cry  Ishtar  fell  back  against  the  post 
of  the  door,  grasping  the  silken  curtain  in  her  hands 
till  it  was  rent  in  pieces.  Alorus  sprang  forth  to  give 
her  aid,  but  she  put  him  from  her. 

"  Nay — nay !"  she  gasped.  "  I  am  well.  Heed  me  not." 

She  tottered  to  the  window  that  looked  forth  to  the 
outer  court  of  the  palace. 

"Air!"  she  muttered.  "I  must  have  air!  My 
breath — I  have  no  more — breath — in  me !" 

Alorus  hastened  after  her  to  support  her.  In  a 
moment  she  seemed  to  recover.  With  one  or  two  long 
gasps,  that  were  almost  like  sobs,  she  regained  her 
voice.  The  terror  of  faintness  left  her.  She  turned 
round  and  looked  into  the  chamber. 

Migdapul  had  fled. 

"  Thou  art  better,  Ishtar  ?"  said  Alorus.  "  Water — 
dost  thou  need " 

"  I  need  naught,"  she  said.  "  This  is  no  time  to  take 
heed,  and  be  like  a  weak  woman.  Alorus,  art  thou 
indeed  my  friend  ?" 

«  Till  death,  lady !" 

"  Lemuel  and  Elna  are  gone  to  the  tents  of  Zoar. 
Jediah  doth  pursue  them  to  wreak  his  vengeance  upon 
them.  And  well  I  know  what  will  betide.  My  Lord 
Alorus,  yet  another  favour  I" 

"  Name  it !"  cried  Alorus.  "  I  am  in  the  granting 
vein,  Ishtar.  Ask  all  I  have." 

"  I  go  to  save  Lemuel  and  Blna.  I  may  need  thine 
aid.  Wilt  thou  go  with  me  ?" 

"  A  journey  with  the  fair  Ishtar !  Who  would  not 
consent  with  thankfulness  ?" 

254 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  And  thou  wilt  help  me  ?" 

"  Yea,  even  to  mine  own  undoing." 

"  Thou  shalt  have  no  cause  to  sorrow  for  this  good 
deed.  My  friend,  how  I  thank  thee!  Come,  come! 
I  must  to  the  palace  of  the  king." 

"  Wherefore  ?" 

"  As  we  go,  I  will  tell  thee.  Come,  Alorus — come ! 
Ah,  my  friend,  never  wert  thou  more  faithful  unto 
manhood  than  in  this  hour !" 

And,  followed  by  Alorus,  she  hurried  forth  towards 
the  palace  of  the  great  king  of  Babylon. 


255 


CHAPTEK  XIV 

IT  was  even  as  Migdapul,  the  god-seller,  had  said  to 
Ishtar.  Lemuel  and  Elna  had  indeed  escaped  from 
Babylon.  But  Lemuel  had,  strangely,  in  falling  be- 
tween the  hands  of  his  friends,  only  passed  from  one 
captivity  into  another.  His  nobility  of  character,  his 
dauntless  courage  could  never  have  betrayed  his  people. 
He  was  not  one  of  those  smooth-tongued  and  ready 
orators  who  play  upon  the  passions  of  a  crowd,  but  re- 
fuse to  share  their  danger  when  they  follow  the  course 
of  action  urged  by  the  fiery  words  of  cowards.  When 
he  stood  in  chains  upon  the  rostrum  in  the  market- 
place, and  cried,  "  To  arms !"  he  desired  to  lead  the 
Israelites  against  the  Babylonians,  to  fight  himself  in 
the  very  forefront  of  the  battle,  to  die,  if  necessary, 
for  the  cause  of  his  country.  But  Sabaal,  the  slave  of 
Alorus,  was  not  of  his  mind.  When  the  tumult  broke 
forth,  and  the  whole  city  was  in  uproar,  Sabaal  and 
those  that  worked  with  him  caught  Lemuel  and  Elna 
from  the  rostrum,  huddled  them  in  the  immense  loose 
robes  that  were  commonly  worn  at  that  time,  drew  the 
great  hoods  forward  before  their  faces,  and  sought  to 
convey  them,  thus  concealed  and  disguised,  out  of  the 
press  of  the  rabble.  But  Lemuel  was  of  no  mind  for 
such  a  flight,  for  such  a  desertion. 

"Strike  my  chains  from  me,"  he  cried  to  Sabaal. 

256 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"Give  me  my  freedom  to  fight  with  and  for  my 
brethren." 

But  Sabaal  and  his  followers  only  surrounded  him 
the  more  closely,  and  sought  to  bear  him  onward, 
crying — 

"Keep  silence!  Else  will  thy  life  be  forfeit  and 
thou  wilt  be  taken  again  into  captivity.  Silence! 
For  each  word  thou  utterest  may  mean  thy  death 
and  this  maiden's." 

"Then  let  me  die,"  said  Lemuel.  "Better  so  than 
that  I  should  thus  desert  them  that  trusted  in  me. 
Let  me  free,  I  say!  What!  am  I  a  captive  among 
mine  own  people  ?" 

"Gag  him!"  whispered  Sabaal  to  those  about  him. 
"  Gag  him  and  bear  him  onward.  It  is  for  the  safety 
of  Israel." 

His  followers  obeyed,  for  Sabaal,  by  his  unyielding 
ruthlessness  of  character  and  by  his  strength  of  pur- 
pose, had,  during  his  long  slavery  in  Babylon,  gained 
great  influence  over  the  Israelites  within  the  city. 
Lemuel  and  Elna,  blinded  by  the  hoods  that  hid  their 
faces,  manacled  in  their  chains,  and  held  fast  in  the 
grasp  of  the  captors,  who  were  intent  only  upon  their 
salvation,  were  borne  forward,  unable  to  make  any 
resistance,  or  to  take  any  part  in  the  fight  for  freedom 
and  the  tumult  that  raged  around  them  on  every  side. 
They  could  feel  the  bufietings  of  the  surging  crowds 
that  threw  them  this  way  and  that.  They  could  hear 
the  dull  roar  of  voices,  muffled  shouts  and  exclama- 
tions, the  dim  clash  of  arms  and  beat  of  war-drums 
and  call  of  trumpets.  But  they  could  see  nothing. 
17  257 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

They  were  as  if  in  a  prison,  with  no  power  of  their 
own  to  perform  any  action  or  to  take  advantage  of 
any  circumstance.  The  journey  through  the  mob 
seemed  thus  most  endless  to  them,  as  must  all  periods 
of  movement  and  of  excitement  in  which  one  is  bereft 
of  power  and  paralysed  of  will.  They  were  hurried 
onward  and  onward  as  if  in  some  nightmare  of  storm 
and  striving,  of  fury  and  of  fierce  combat.  But,  at 
length,  the  muffled  noise  of  multitudes  grew  less. 
They  were  no  longer  buffeted  and  flung  from  one 
side  to  another.  They  moved  forward  more  rapidly 
and  more  continuously,  and  peace  grew  about  them. 
They  could  hear  now  the  voices  of  the  Israelites  talking 
around  them,  and  the  strong  tones  of  Sabaal  giving 
commands. 

"  We  must  lie  close  this  night  in  the  city,"  he  said. 
"  For  all  the  gates  will  be  guarded.  If  our  people  do 
triumph  over  these  cursed  Babylonians,  or  be  like  to 
triumph,  then  will  we  let  Lemuel  forth  to  be  indeed 
their  leader  and  to  inspire  them  to  greater  deeds. 
But  if  not,  then  must  we  get  Lemuel  in  secret  out  of 
the  city,  to  wait  the  appointed  time.  For  he  hath  the 
ear  of  the  people,  and  without  him  our  cause  will  even 
be  lost.  His  life  must  be  preserved,  let  come  what 
may.  To  the  western  gate — and  warily.  We  must 
lie  this  night  by  the  western  wall  and  wait  what  may 
betide.  To  the  house  of  Abimelech,  friends." 

"  To  the  house  of  Abimelech  !"  returned  the  Israelites, 
hastening  onward  with  Lemuel  and  Elna  in  their  midst. 

That  night  and  the  next  they  lay  close  within  this 
house,  under  the  shadow  of  the  western  wall  of  the 

258 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

city.  Sabaal  and  others  ventured  forth  from  time  to 
time,  in  order  to  learn  the  news  of  what  was  befalling, 
and  at  first  their  hearts  rejoiced  and  in  exultation  they 
spoke  together,  saying  that  the  prophecy  of  Lemuel 
was  already  about  to  be  fulfilled,  that  Babylon  was 
already  tottering  to  its  fall.  For  they  saw  the  guards 
of  the  king,  whose  duty  it  was  to  keep  public  order 
and  to  defend  their  ruler,  rioting  with  the  lowest  of  the 
people,  drinking  and  dissipating  with  the  women  in 
the  stews  and  in  the  infamous  quarters  wherein  people 
lived  like  unto  animals.  And  there  was  neither  law, 
nor  religion,  nor  order,  nor  peace.  And  they  saw  men 
feasting  while  the  flames  of  burning  houses  rose  up  in 
the  black  night  towards  the  sky,  and  girls  dancing 
while  the  bodies  of  the  murdered  lay  unburied,  and 
robbers  looting  the  shops  of  the  merchants  and  pillag- 
ing the  heavily  loaded  boats  upon  the  river  Euphrates, 
and  the  wealthy  citizens  pale  with  fear  of  their  own 
slaves  and  servitors.  And  they  heard  of  the  king 
himself  shuddering  within  the  walls  of  his  mighty 
palace. 

Then  they  said  unto  Sabaal — 

"  The  hour  is  come.  Let  us  now  send  forth  Lemuel 
to  our  people,  and  the  city  shall  be  ours.  For — look — 
the  Babylonians  themselves  do  bring  destruction  upon 
Babylon.  With  their  own  hands  do  they  set  the 
torches  to  the  buildings  and  spread  terror  among  their 
own  brethren.  Soon  shall  the  very  temples  of  their 
gods  crumble  into  dust.  For  the  wrath  of  the  God  of 
our  fathers  is  upon  them,  and  the  night  of  their  pass- 
ing away  is  come." 

259 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

But  Sabaal  answered — 

"  Wait.  The  time  is  not  yet  ripe.  "Wait  until  the 
morrow." 

On  the  morrow  the  tumult  had  already  abated. 
The  flames  of  the  burning  buildings  had  been  quenched. 
The  Babylonians,  wearied  by  the  wave  of  excitement 
that  had  caught  them,  fatigued  by  their  excesses,  were 
even  now  returning  to  the  paths  of  reason  from  which 
they  had  strayed.  And  the  revolt  of  the  Israelites  had 
been  quelled. 

So,  on  the  coming  of  the  third  day,  Sabaal  and  his 
followers,  still  bearing  with  them  Lemuel  and  Elna  as 
captives,  escaped  out  of  the  city  by  the  western  tower, 
even  as  Migdapul  had  said,  and  made  their  way  to- 
wards the  plains,  journeying  towards  the  tents  of  the 
tribe  of  Zoar. 

As  it  fell  out,  Migdapul,  who  had  received  the  order 
of  Ishtar  to  discover  where  Lemuel  had  lain  hidden 
after  his  escape  from  the  rostrum,  perceived  the 
shrouded  figures  of  the  captives,  mounted  upon  cam- 
els, as  they  went  forth  from  the  city.  Seeing  that 
Sabaal  was  with  them,  and  being  well  acquainted  with 
him,  as  has  already  been  mentioned,  he  accosted  Sabaal, 
and  whispered  to  him — 

"  Who  are  these  thou  bearest  with  thee,  O  Sabaal  ? 
And  whither  goest  thou  ?" 

Sabaal  hesitated  to  reply,  and  at  first  endeavoured 
to  evade  the  question. 

"  These  are  but  women  of  Israel,"  he  said,  "  whom  we 
do  escort  to  the  tents  of  their  people.  For  Babylon  is 
no  place  for  women  when  such  riots  do  befall." 

260 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

Migdapul  showed  his  teeth  in  an  incredulous  smile. 

"  Nay,"  he  rejoined,  pointing  to  the  mighty  form  of 
Lemuel.  "If  that  be  a  woman,  she  is  indeed  well 
favoured  of  the  gods  and  meet  helpmate  for  one  of 
those  giants  who,  they  do  say,  dwell  in  India.  It 
seemeth  unto  me,  O  Sabaal,  that  the  shepherd, 
Lem " 

"  Hush  !"  hissed  Sabaal.  "  Keep  silence,  and  I  will 
give  thee  silver.  Here — and  here." 

He  pressed  some  coins  into  the  greedy  hands  of 
Migdapul. 

"  And  thou  shalt  have  much  more  when  I  return. 
Moreover,  if  thou  dost  say  aught,  I  have  the  where- 
withal to  bring  thee  low.  Hast  thou  forgotten  how,  in 
thy  cups,  thou  did'st  tell  me  of  the  way  to  make  blind 
men  for  the " 

"Enough!  enough!"  cried  Migdapul  hastily.  "I 
have  seen  naught  except  these  thy — women." 

And  he  hurriedly  mingled  with  the  throng  that  beset 
the  street,  while  Sabaal  and  his  followers  went  forth  in 
safety  through  the  gate  of  the  city  and  gained  the 
open  country,  travelling  with  all  speed  towards  the 
well  of  Naomi  and  the  far-off  tents  of  Zoar. 

Now,  while  the  crafty  Migdapul  was  returning  to 
the  palace  of  Ishtar,  hot  with  his  news,  and  musing 
gladly  upon  the  price  he  would  be  paid  for  it,  by  a 
strange  chance — or,  indeed,  a  stroke  of  fate,  as  would 
say  the  superstitious — he  fell  in  with  Jediah  and  with 
Adoram.  Even  among  the  excited  and  perturbed  peo- 
ple of  a  tumultuous  city,  Jediah  stood  forth  as  one  on 
whom  calamity  had  set  a  terrible  stamp.  He  had  re- 

261 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

covered  from  the  seizure  by  which  he  had  been  taken 
in  the  slave-market.  He  was  now  in  reason,  and  could 
walk  abroad.  But  he  was  so  haggard,  fierce,  and  old, 
in  the  aspect  of  his  countenance  and  in  the  movement 
of  his  limbs,  that  he  appeared,  indeed,  rather  like  some 
horrible  spectre  informed  by  the  very  spirit  of  Evil, 
than  like  a  human  being.  He  no  longer  thought,  as 
other  men,  of  the  many  passing  concerns  of  life,  of  the 
gliding  circumstances  of  the  hours,  of  those  about  him, 
and  of  the  things  his  eyes  looked  upon,  but  lived  in 
a  dream  of  revenge,  and  was  shut  up  within  a  prison 
of  the  soul.  Where  was  Lemuel?  Where  was  the 
maiden  Elna?  This  question  possessed  him.  He 
neither  ate  nor  did  he  sleep  at  night,  but  ever  he 
sought  these  two,  who  had  been  reft  from  him  even  as 
he  thought  to  close  his  hands  upon  them  and  to  keep 
them  his — sad  hostages  to  death. 

He  saw  not  Migdapul  in  the  street,  but  the  god- 
seller,  whose  eyes  were  ever  glancing  this  way  and  that, 
intent  on  the  service  of  his  lust  of  money,  perceived 
him,  and,  scenting  further  gain,  stopped  him,  cry- 
ing— 

"Jediah  the  Israelite!  In  the  name  of  the  great 
god  Bel,  and  of  Merodach,  the  god  of  all  gods,  whom 
seekest  thou  ?" 

Jediah  snarled  on  him  like  some  animal  disturbed 
in  its  pursuit  of  a  victim,  and  would  have  gone  on  his 
way,  but  Migdapul  laid  one  filthy  hand  upon  his  arm, 
and  whispered  in  his  ear — 

"Seekest  thou  not  Lemuel  the  shepherd  and  the 
maiden  Elna  ?" 

262 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

Jediah  stopped  short,  and  glared  into  the  evil  face 
of  the  god-seller. 

"Where  are  they?"  he  cried.  "Where  are  they? 
Speak,  thou  knave,  or  I  will  even  tear  the  words  from 
thy  throat  and  throw  thy  carcase  unto  the  dogs  of  the 
city." 

"Nay,"  returned  Migdapul,  "I  will  speak  no  word 
without  thou  givest  me  my  just  reward  for  service.  I 
am  no  slave  of  thine,  but  of  the  great  gods,  who " 

Jediah  caught  him  by  the  shoulders  with  hands  like 
claws. 

"  Thou  shalt  speak !"  he  vociferated  furiously,  "  or  I 
will  strike  thee  dead  at  my  feet.  Thou  shalt,  I  say !" 

And  he  shook  Migdapul  till  the  creature's  breath 
verily  rattled  in  his  throat. 

"They — are — gone  forth — by  the — western  gate!" 
stammered  Migdapul.  "Nay,  let  me  go!  Thou  art 
mad !  Let — me " 

"  The  western  gate  ?"  cried  Jediah.  "  Adoram,  they 
are  fled  to  the  tents  of  our  people !" 

He  burst  forth  into  a  terrible  laugh. 

"  They  are  run  to  meet  their  fate.  Come  thou  with 
me,  Adoram.  We  will  pursue.  We  will  take  them. 
They  shall  come  before  the  Judgment  Seat.  They 
shall  be  stoned  with  stones — with  stones — hearest  thou 
me  ? — until  they  die  !" 

He  turned,  like  one  demented,  to  be  gone.  But 
Migdapul  caught  him  by  the  skirt  of  his  garment, 
crying — 

"Payment! — the  payment  for  my  service!  Nay — • 
nay — thou  shalt  pay  me !" 

263 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  Take  thy  money  and  begone !"  cried  Jediah,  throw- 
ing him  some  pieces  of  silver. 

Migdapul  flung  himself  upon  the  ground  to  pick 
them  up.  When  he  lifted  his  head  again,  Jediah  and 
Adoram  were  gone  from  his  sight. 


264 


CHAPTER    XV 

IT  was  late  afternoon.  Over  the  long  plains  where 
dwelt  the  tribe  of  Zoar  the  sunlight  fell  with  a  softened 
glory.  The  great  palm-trees  shook  as  the  delicate 
fingers  of  the  breeze  touched  them,  caressing  them  as 
the  fingers  of  a  gentle  mother  caress  her  child.  Before 
the  tents  the  little  gay  Israelites  played,  as  of  old, 
heedless  of  the  troubles  and  the  anxieties  that  ever 
rent  their  nation.  And  around  the  well  of  Naomi, 
where  grew  the  tall  reeds  and  the  sweet-smelling 
bushes  starred  with  yellow  flowers,  the  maidens  of  the 
tribe  chattered,  as  was  their  wont,  while  they  drew 
the  water  to  fill  the  tall  pitchers  that  they  bore  upon 
their  graceful  heads.  Among  these  women  was  Tirzah, 
she  who  had  assisted  Blna  in  her  flight  to  Babylon. 
Tirzah  joined  but  little  in  the  talk  about  the  well.  She 
drew  the  water  to  fill  her  pitcher,  placed  the  pitcher 
upon  her  head,  and,  walking  with  the  peculiar  freedom 
and  majesty  of  the  women  of  her  tribe,  took  her  way 
alone  towards  the  tent  of  her  mother.  This  lay 
rather  apart  from  the  other  tents,  and  nearest  to  the 
Judgment  Seat  that  stood  up  prominently  in  the  plain. 
Now  it  chanced  that,  when  Tirzah  had  set  down  her 
pitcher  within  the  tent,  she  came  forth  to  the  door 
and  looked  idly  over  the  plain.  Her  mother  was  not 
within.  She  was  quite  alone.  The  day  had  been 
warm,  but  as  the  evening  drew  nigh  a  cool  breeze  had 

265 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

sprung  up.  Tirzah,  who  was  weary,  enjoyed  feeling 
it  upon  her  face.  She  loved  well  this  hour,  when  the 
silence  seemed  to  grow  around  her,  when  the  brass  of 
the  sky  melted  into  many  soft  and  beautiful  colours, 
when  the  birds,  full-throated,  sang  their  last  songs, 
and  the  flowers  began  to  fold  their  delicate  petals, 
and  the  children  to  droop  their  pretty  eyelids  and 
gently  long  for  rest.  At  this  time  a  strange  romance 
stole  over  these  mighty  plains  in  the  midst  of  which 
dwelt  the  tribe  of  Zoar.  It  was  scarcely  palpable, 
yet  Tirzah  felt  it.  All  nature  softened,  as  softens  a 
face  when  the  mind  thinks  kindly  and  the  heart  is 
full  of  charity.  The  tall  palm-trees  threw  long 
shadows,  and  against  the  sky  their  outlines  became 
romantic  and  suggestive  of  mysterious  beauty  and  of 
haunted  places  far  away.  The  long  grasses  waved 
and  rustled,  as  if  they  talked  together  of  quaint 
legends  and  of  night  imaginings.  The  noise  of  the 
stream  surely  changed.  Its  music  became  more  peace- 
ful, more  naive  and  infantine.  A  flight  of  big  birds, 
like  herons,  passed  overhead,  flying  towards  the  salt 
marshes  that  lay  beside  the  distant  margin  of  the 
sea.  Their  long  wings  were  black  like  velvet 
against  the  lemon  light.  They  dwindled  to  specks 
and  disappeared.  And  their  departure  was  full  of 
mystery.  The  multitudinous  insects  that  had  their 
being  in  the  rank  herbage  of  the  plain  chirped 
less  vivaciously.  Their  activities  were  lulled.  Per- 
haps they  crept  to  curious  little  homes  beneath  the 
plants  that  were  to  them  a  jungle,  and  gave  them- 
selves to  dozings  and  to  insect  dreams.  Never  did 

266 


THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

there  seem  less  cruelty  in  the  world  that  God  had 
made  than  at  this  hour  of  His  day.  So  Tirzah  often 
thought.  And  now,  standing  in  the  tent-door,  this 
idea  came  to  her  again.  Why  could  not  all  men  be 
ever  kind,  all  women  ever  tender,  all  children  ever 
happy  and  innocent  ?  Why  must  there  be  violence  on 
the  beautiful  earth,  slavery  and  suffering,  the  wildness 
of  passion  and  the  haggard  terror  of  pain  ?  Nature  was 
so  lovely  and  so  beneficent ;  the  sun  shone  to  ripen  the 
grain  and  to  prepare  the  harvests;  the  rain  fell  to 
give  all  flowers  and  plants  the  vital  freshness  of  life ; 
the  winds  blew  from  the  distant  deserts  to  cool  those 
that  were  tired  with  long  labour ;  the  moon  and  the 
stars  shone  gently  to  guide  the  steps  of  the  travellers 
in  the  night.  And  all  these  children  of  the  Great  God 
were  kind.  Did  not  the  stars  themselves  sing  together, 
the  plants  entwine  their  sister  plants  in  sweet  em- 
braces, the  winds  go  hand  in  hand,  the  stream  give 
itself  and  all  its  music  to  the  majesty  and  the  music 
of  the  sea  ?  The  sun,  in  dying  each  evening,  yielded 
beauty  to  the  clouds  that  attended  it.  The  purple  of 
the  sky  was  like  a  religion.  Why,  then,  should  there 
be  pain  and  bondage,  lust  and  violence,  anger  and  de- 
spair, wherever  men  were  gathered  together,  wherever 
women  brought  forth  children? 

Tirzah  often  pondered  on  these  things  in  her  simple 
way,  as  women  before  her  had  pondered,  as  women 
will  ponder  through  all  the  ages  of  the  world.  For, 
in  such  evening  hours  as  this,  charity  comes  up  from 
the  heart  of  nature  like  a  prayer  and  like  a  benedic- 
tion. Tenderness  hangs  in  the  air,  between  the  twi- 

267 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

light  and  the  darkness,  as  incense  above  the  altars  of 
the  gods  men  worship.  This  evening,  as  she  stood  in 
the  tent-door  looking  forth  towards  the  Judgment 
Seat,  Tirzah's  thoughts  made  their  accustomed  jour- 
ney and  then  swept  on  to  Babylon.  Tirzah  had  never 
seen  the  great  city  that  was  the  wonder  of  the  world. 
She  had  heard  men  speak  of  its  tremendous  life,  and 
women  whisper  of  the  things  that  were  done  in  it. 
But  ever  it  seemed  to  her  like  some  city  of  a  tale  or 
of  a  dream.  Even  when  those  she  knew  went  up  to 
it,  vanishing  out  of  her  sight  and  remaining  long 
away,  she  felt  as  if  they  were  gone  out  of  the  world 
rather  than  into  a  city  that  she  herself  might  enter, 
did  she  join  one  of  the  passing  caravans,  with  their 
company  of  merchants  and  of  traders,  of  slaves  and 
of  water-carriers.  And  never  did  Babylon  seem  to 
her  more  legendary  than  at  the  hour  of  sunset. 

Yet  Babylon  had  taken  into  her  fierce  and  evil 
embrace  Lemuel  and  Jediah,  and  Elna  and  Jozadah. 
Then  Tirzah  thought  of  Lemuel,  the  shepherd  who 
was  like  unto  a  king,  the  youth  who  had  tended  the 
flocks  and  who  had  the  eyes  of  a  seer  and  the  heart  of 
a  prophet.  Once  Elna  had  said  unto  her  that  all 
women  loved  him.  It  was  true  that  Tirzah's  heart 
held  some  love  for  him,  but  it  was  wholly  innocent, 
and  asked  for  no  return.  Always  she  wished  that 
Elna,  whom  she  loved  as  a  sister,  might  find  peace  and 
perfection  in  the  strong  arms  of  Lemuel.  But  ever 
she  was  haunted  by  a  thousand  vague  fears  for  the 
safety  of  these  two.  And  these  fears  had  become  more 
incessant,  more  clamorous  in  her  soul  since  the  de- 

268 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

parture  of  Jediah  from  the  tents.  She  knew  that  he 
had  followed  the  fugitive,  the  boy,  Elna,  to  Babylon. 
She  knew  that  he  was  intent  upon  revenge. 

Now  she  looked  forth  over  the  plain,  and  she  strove, 
more  keenly  than  before,  to  realise  Babylon,  to  realise 
the  doings  and  the  fate  of  those  she  loved  there.  But 
even  now  the  city,  and  their  fate  in  it,  became,  as 
aforetime,  dreamlike.  For  here  she  stood  in  silence, 
and  it  was  the  most  charitable  and  tender  hour.  She 
could  see  no  one  upon  the  plain,  and  the  world  seemed 
empty.  There  was  no  sound  of  labourers  singing,  or 
of  shepherds  piping  to  their  following  flocks.  There 
was  no  bark  of  dog,  no  murmur  of  chattering  maidens. 
Was  it  indeed  possible  that  evil  passions  existed  any- 
where, that  anywhere  there  could  be  streets  teeming 
with  multitudes,  buzzing  with  voices,  that  there  could 
be  cries  of  terror  from  dark  houses  in  the  night,  and 
crimes  committed  secretly  on  those  whose  only  fault 
was  to  love — on  men  like  Lemuel,  on  women  like 
Elna? 

But  now,  listening  intently  to  the  loveliness  of  this 
twilight  silence,  Tirzah  heard,  far  off,  a  tinkling  of 
bells,  a  faint — a  very  faint  sound  of  voices.  And 
presently,  at  a  long  distance  upon  the  plain  beyond 
the  Judgment  Seat,  she  perceived  something  that 
looked  like  a  long  black  serpent  moving  slowly  to- 
wards the  shadowy  horizon.  She  knew  that  this  must 
be  a  journeying  caravan.  It  moved  on  a>nd  vanished. 
The  tinkle  of  the  bells  faded,  and  silence  gathered 
round  once  more.  Presently  Tirzah  woke  from  her 
dreaming  with  a  sigh,  and  was  about  to  turn  and  go 

269 


THE    DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

into  the  tent,  when  her  gaze  was  attracted  by  a  black 
speck  that  was  approaching  the  Judgment  Seat  from 
the  direction  in  which  the  caravan  had  disappeared. 
It  grew,  as  it  drew  nearer,  until  she  could  see  that  it 
was  a  man,  moving  slowly  and  with  a  curiously  hesi- 
tating gait,  frequently  pausing  as  if  to  rest.  This 
man  came  on  until  he  reached  the  Judgment  Seat. 
Then  he  stopped.  A  long  time  passed,  and  he  did  not 
move.  Something  within  Tirzah's  heart  moved  her  to 
go  towards  this  unknown  stranger.  She  knew  not 
whence  came  the  impulse,  nor  at  all  why.  But  she 
obeyed  it,  left  the  tent,  and  slowly  walked  towards  the 
Judgment  Seat.  When  she  was  come  near  to  it,  she 
perceived  a  man,  apparently  old,  with  white  hair  and 
rough  and  tattered  clothing,  leaning  against  the  mighty 
block  of  stone  that  formed  its  base,  as  if  for  support. 
He  carried  in  one  thin  hand  a  stout  staff.  And  as 
Tirzah  approached  him,  and  the  sound  of  her  move- 
ment through  the  herbage  became  audible,  he  turned 
his  face  towards  her.  The  dying  gleam  of  the  sun  fell 
full  upon  it,  lighting  up  its  white  weariness,  its  lines, 
and  two  gaping  holes,  where  should  have  been  his 
eyes.  With  a  sense  of  deep  and  tender  pity,  Tirzah 
knew  that  he  was  blind. 

"Who  is  that?  Who  cometh  to  me?"  asked  the 
blind  man  in  a  trembling  voice,  as  Tirzah  stood  beside 
him. 

And,  as  he  spoke,  he  sank  down  wearily  upon  the 
steps  of  the  Judgment  Seat. 

"  I  am  one  of  the  daughters  of  Israel,  father,"  re- 
turned Tirzah  gently. 

270 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  A  daughter  of  Israel  ?"  said  the  blind  man  sadly. 
"  Yea,  yea." 

He  paused^  and  let  his  head  sink  down  on  his  breast, 
as  if  he  lost  himself  in  melancholy  meditation. 

Tirzah  watched  him  with  ever  growing  sympathy. 
There  was  something  infinitely  pathetic  in  this  face, 
the  stamp,  the  signature  of  a  great  sorrow,  a  terrible 
tragedy.  All  the  features  were  wasted,  as  if  grief 
had  fed  through  long  years  upon  the  very  flesh  of  the 
man.  The  frame  was  big,  and  should  surely  have  once 
been  strong  and  lusty.  But  now  it  was  feeble,  and  the 
bones  appeared  visibly  through  the  flesh.  The  arms 
were  like  sticks,  the  fingers  of  the  hands  almost  like 
the  claws  of  some  wild  bird.  Presently  the  blind  man, 
returning  from  his  morose  meditation,  lifted  up  his 
head  again,  and  said  to  Tirzah — 

«  Why  callest  thou  me— father  ?" 

"  Why  ?"  she  answered.  "  Because  thou  art  old. 
Thy  hair  is  white,  and — alas  ! — thou  art  blind !" 

"  That  I  am  blind  'tis  true,"  said  the  man.  « My 
hair,  too,  is  white,  as  thou  sayest.  Yet  am  I  not  old.v 

"  How — not  old  ?"  cried  Tirzah,  in  astonishment. 

"  My  hair  is  whitened  with  suffering,  mine  eyes  are 
darkened  by  cruelty,  yet  am  I  but  young  in  years — 
but  young  in  years." 

And  he  shook  his  head  mournfully  and  clasped  his 
poor  hands  around  his  staff. 

Tirzah  was  deeply  surprised.  It  seemed  to  her  in- 
credible that  this  man  could  be  young.  Yet  his  words 
carried  conviction  to  her  heart.  She  felt  that  they 
were  indeed  true. 

271 


THE  DAUGHTERS  OF   BABYLON 

"  Thine  eyes  were  darkened  by  cruelty  ?"  she  said. 
"How  can  that  be?  Whence  comest  thou,  stran- 
ger?" 

"  From  Babylon." 

Tirzah  looked  upon  the  stranger  with  even  greater 
interest  as  he  spoke  the  last  words. 

"  From  Babylon  ?"  she  said.  "  Ah  !  tell  me— thou 
wast  there  but  lately  ?" 

"  I  am  but  just  come  from  thence,  maiden." 

"And  did'st  thou  see ?"  began  Tirzah  eagerly. 

Then  she  paused,  looking  upon  those  horrible  holes 
where  should  have  gleamed  the  eyes  of  the  man. 

"  I  can  see  nothing,"  answered  the  man,  "nothing." 

"  Forgive  me,  father,"  she  said,  kneeling  beside  him 
and  taking  one  of  his  thin  hands.  "  Forgive  me  that 
I  spake  without  thought.  And  so  thou  art  come  from 
the  great  city  whither  goeth,  surely,  all  the  world  ?" 

"Yea,"  said  the  blind  man.  "Yet  am  I  not  a 
stranger  in  this  land.  I  went  to  Babylon  to  seek — to 
seek — no  matter  what.  I  found  it  not  until  I  had 
waited  and  longed  and  suffered  for  years.  And  then, 
at  last,  I  thought  that  I  had  found  it." 

He  had  grown  greatly  excited  while  he  was  speak- 
ing ;  and  now  he  grasped  the  hand  of  Tirzah  so  tightly 
that  she  could  scarce  refrain  from  crying  out. 

"  And  was  it  not  true  ?"  she  asked. 

"  They  said  not,"  he  answered.  "  It  was  a  voice  I 
heard,  a  voice  I  thought  I  knew,  a  voice  I  once  had 
loved — do  you  hear  me? — had  loved  more  than  all 
other  voices  upon  the  earth.  But  they  told  me  I  was 
mad.  They  told  me  it  was  the  voice  of  a  great  queen 

272 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

in  Babylon ;  that  it  was  Ishtar's  voice.  Never  had  I 
heard  Ishtar  speak,  though  often  had  I  been  up  to 
her  palace  to  ask  for  alms.  But  they  told  me  it  was 
her  voice  I  heard.  But  shall  I  tell  thee— shall  I  tell 
thee ?" 

He  bent  mysteriously  towards  Tirzah. 

"  Yes,  yes !  tell  me,"  she  said,  thinking  to  calm  and 
comfort  him. 

"  I  think  it  was  some  voice  in  my  brain  I  heard, 
some  voice  that  never  really  spoke  at  all.  And  now — 
now — that  same  inward  voice  hath  bid  me  return 
hither." 

"  Yes,  father,"  said  Tirzah  soothingly.  "  This  place 
is  sweeter  than  Babylon." 

"Yea — and  more  silent.  'Tis,  in  truth,  the  plain 
before  the  tents  of  Zoar,  is  it  not  ?" 

"It  is,  father." 

"  And  this,"  he  said,  touching  the  stone  whereon  he 
was  seated  with  his  thin  fingers.  "Tell  me — what 
place  is  this  ?" 

"  The  Judgment  Seat,  father." 

Johanan,  for  it  was  he,  started  up. 

"The  Judgment  Seat?"  he  cried.  "An  omen!  A 
portent !  'Tis  here  that  justice  shall  be  done.  The 
voice— the  voice  tells  me  so.  I  hear  it  even  now." 

And  he  stood  with  his  hand  to  his  ear  as  one  that 
listens. 

Then  he  said,  more  calmly — 

"  Come  hither,  maiden." 

Tirzah  approached  him,  and,  very  gently,  Johanan 
passed  his  hands  over  her  face  and  her  hair. 
18 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  Thou  art  young,"  lie  said,  "  too  young — thou 
would'st  not  know." 

"  Know  what  ?"  asked  Tirzah. 

"Tell  me,"  he  said.  "Did'st  thou  ever  hear  thy 
people  speak  of  one  Elcia  ?" 

"  Elcia  ?"  said  Tirzah,  «  Yea— she  fled  the  tents,  she 
fled  from  her  husband  Johanan,  and  went  to  Babylon." 

"To  Babylon?  Yea,  yea!"  said  the  blind  man, 
trembling  with  excitement. 

"  And  there  she  lived,  they  do  say,  with — with " 

Tirzah  paused,  hesitating. 

"  With — with  whom  ?    Tell  me,  maiden,  tell  me !" 

"  With  our  Lord  and  Judge,  Jediah,"  answered  Tir- 
zah in  a  low  voice.  She  had  not  meant  to  say  it,  but 
there  was  something  commanding  about  this  blind 
man.  He  seemed  to  constrain  her  whether  she  would 
or  no.  As  she  spoke,  a  fearful  change  came  over  the 
blind  man.  On  hearing  the  name  of  Jediah,  he  started 
violently,  and  seemed  as  if  he  was  about  to  fall.  Then 
he  straightened  himself  up  slowly,  and  into  his  face 
there  came  an  appalling  expression  of  comprehension 
and  of  the  most  vivid,  the  most  vital  fury. 

As  Tirzah  looked  upon  him,  it  seemed  as  if  he  be- 
came young  in  the  depth  of  his  wrath,  strong  in  the 
terror  of  his  desire  to  wreak  some  strange  vengeance, 
as  if  he  even  saw,  by  a  miracle,  some  shape  of  one  he 
had  long  ago  known  stand  before  him. 

"  Oh,  father !"  cried  Tirzah,  in  fear  of  this  transfor- 
mation. "  Tell  me  what  ails  thee !  Speak,  I  beseech 
thee !" 

"  Jediah !  Jediah !"  cried*  the  blind  man,  lifting  up 
274 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

his  arms  towards  heaven.  "Fool  that  I  was  not  to 
see — then !  Fool,  more  blind  than  now !  Was  he  not 
ever  by  our  tent  ?  Yet  how  could  I  suspect  our  Lord 
and  Judge  ?  Now  I  know  indeed !  Ah !  great  Judge 
of  judges,  give  him  into  my  hands !  Give  him  unto 
me!" 

And,  exhausted  with  passion,  he  sank  down  at  the 
foot  of  the  Judgment  Seat  like  a  suppliant  prostrating 
himself  before  the  throne  of  a  mighty  king.  Tirzah 
would  fain  have  raised  him  up,  for  the  sun  had  now 
sunk  behind  the  rim  of  the  world,  and  the  darkness 
was  falling.  But  he  put  her  from  him. 

"  Nay,"  he  said.  "  Leave  me,  I  pray  thee,  and  tell 
to  no  one  the  words  that  thou  hast  heard  me  speak. 
Dost  thou  hear  me  ?  Swear  that  thou  wilt  say  naught." 

"  I  swear,  father,"  said  Tirzah,  to  appease  him.  "  But 
let  me,  I  pray  thee,  lead  thee  with  me,  for  it  groweth 
dark  and  the  winds  of  night  blow  coldly  across  the 
plains." 

"  They  will  not  hurt  me,"  answered  the  blind  man. 

"  But  thou  art  faint — thou  art  hungry." 

"  I  have  food  here,"  he  said,  laying  his  hand  on  a 
species  of  wallet  that  hung  at  his  girdle  by  a  twisted 
rope  of  wool.  "  I  shall  neither  starve,  nor  shall  I  feel 
any  cold.  Naught  can  hurt  me  now,  I  know.  I  live 
— I  live  till  justice  be  done.  Go,  maiden — go,  and  say 
naught  of  me  to  thy  people,  I  do  straitly  charge  thee." 

.Reluctantly  Tirzah  left  him  and  went  towards  the 
tents.  She  turned  once  to  look  back  upon  him,  but  the 
darkness  of  the  coming  night  had  already  swallowed 
him  up  from  her  sight. 

275 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

That  night,  all  her  mind  was  turned  from  the  blind 
man  and  from  his  strangeness  and  his  story,  for  at  the 
midnight  hour,  when  already  the  people  of  the  tribe  of 
Zoar  had  been  long  within  the  tents,  there  rose  the 
sound  of  voices  calling  out  of  the  blackness,  the  long 
note  of  a  horn  blown  from  afar,  the  growl  of  camels 
and  the  shrill  barking  of  wakened  dogs.  The  weary 
men  shifted  upon  their  couches,  and  the  women,  half 
affrighted,  sat  up  to  listen.  The  voices  grew  louder, 
and  presently  one  detached  itself  from  the  rest  and 
cried  out  loudly — 

"  Wake,  Zoar !  Wake  thou,  Naomi !  And  give  us 
welcome !" 

"  Yerily,  it  is  the  voice  of  Sabaal,  the  slave  of  the 
Lord  Alorus,"  said  one  man  to  another.  "  Can  Alorus 
be  come  hither  in  the  night  ?" 

"What  may  be  his  purpose?"  returned  his  com- 
panion. "I  like  this  not.  There  should  be  trouble 
afoot." 

They  hastened  to  the  tent-door.  The  night  was 
very  dark,  and  since  evening  a  wind  had  arisen  and 
was  now  blowing  fiercely  about  the  tents  and  whistling 
angrily  among  the  palm-trees,  whose  large  leaves  gave 
forth  a  desolate  creaking  note.  Tirzah,  with  other  of 
the  women,  had  hurried  forth  at  the  sound  of  all  this 
uproar,  and  even  the  aged  Zoar  came  from  his  couch, 
attended  by  his  faithful  wife  Naomi.  Some  of  the 
men  had  hastily  set  fire  to  long  torches  of  wood  dipped 
in  a  species  of  resinous  oil,  and  these  now  flared  in  the 
wind,  blowing  backward  as  if  they  would  fly  away, 
like  spirits,  into  the  blackness  of  the  night.  Set  in 

276 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

the  wavering  light  of  these  torches,  the  people  now 
saw  several  camels  standing  laden  with  packs,  among 
which  were  perched  hooded  figures  like  enormous 
shadows  scarce  to  be  distinguished  in  the  prevailing 
gloom. 

"  Who  be  ye,"  said  Zoar,  "  that  do  call  tired  men 
from  their  slumbers  in  such  a  night  as  this  ?" 

"Dost  thou  not  know  me,  Zoar?"  cried  Sabaal, 
forcing  his  camel  to  kneel,  and  springing  to  the 
ground. 

"Sabaal!"  exclaimed  Zoar.  "What!  Is  the  Lord 
Alorus  come  ?" 

"Nay,  nay.  Yet  have  I  brought  thee  captives," 
answered  Sabaal.  "  Set  Lemuel  free,  Micah." 

"Lemuel!"  cried  Naomi,  hurrying  forward.  "My 
son !  My  son !" 

Two  Israelites  now  assisted  Lemuel,  who,  by  order 
of  Sabaal,  had  been,  during  the  march,  a  prisoner,  to 
dismount,  and  drew  back  the  long  robe  in  which  Elna 
had  been  muffled  and  disguised. 

Lemuel  stood  once  more  in  liberty.  His  face  was 
very  pale.  His  eyes  flashed  with  passion.  But  he 
controlled  himself,  and,  bending  before  his  father  and 
his  mother,  received  their  blessing.  But  to  Sabaal  he 
said — 

"  Thou  hast  done  me  bitter  evil.  Thou  hast  forced 
me  to  seem  to  play  the  coward." 

"  For  the  sake  of  the  brethren,"  returned  Sabaal,  "  I 
would  do  more  than  that.  But  for  me,  thou  would'st 
now  be  still  captive  to  the  Babylonians  or  be  laid  in 
thy  grave  for  ever." 

277 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

Lemuel  turned  from  him. 

"And  Elna?"  he  said. 

"  She  is  here,"  said  Zoar  sternly.  "  And  with  thee  ? 
What!  art  thou  indeed  guilty,  as  have  said  the 
brethren,  guilty  of  this  crime  against  thy  brother 
Jediah  ?" 

"There  is  no  crime,  father,"  said  Lemuel  proudly. 
"  There  is  no  guilt.  Elna,  come  hither." 

And  he  led  her  to  Naomi,  who  was  weeping,  half 
with  joy,  half  with  terror. 

"  My  mother,"  he  said,  "  this  maiden  is  innocent  as 
when  she  left  our  tents  to  follow  me  that  she  might 
guard  me  from  the  danger  that  was  plotted  against 
me  in  Babylon." 

Then  Naomi  opened  her  arms,  and  Elna  fell,  weeping 
too,  upon  her  bosom. 

All  this  time  the  violence  of  the  storm  was  in- 
creasing, yet  the  Israelites  scarce  heeded  it.  From 
tent  to  tent,  with  the  rapidity  of  the  fire  that  licketh 
up  the  dry  grass,  had  spread  the  news  of  Lemuel's 
return  with  Elna,  and  from  every  tent  poured  out 
men,  women,  and  even  children.  Many  of  them  car- 
ried in  their  hands  torches,  and  there  was  a  wavering 
and  shifting  blaze  of  light  in  the  roaring  blackness. 
A  ruddy  glow  fell  upon  the  pale  and  weary  faces  of 
Lemuel  and  Elna,  and  upon  the  stern  and  rugged 
countenance  of  the  slave  Sabaal,  who  had  dared  so 
much  in  the  cause  of  his  people,  driven  by  a  zeal 
that  could  give  him  no  rest  nor  ever  let  him  be  at 
peace. 

"  This  is  a  strange  tale,"  said  Zoar  gravely.  "  Where 
278 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

is  thy  brother  Jediah?  He  went  up  to  Babylon  to 
seek  this  erring  maiden,  and  is  sworn  to  bring  her 
hither  that  judgment  may  be  done  upon  her." 

"Let  judgment  be  passed  upon  us  both,"  answered 
Lemuel  fearlessly.  "  My  desire  was  to  strike  for  my 
people  against  the  Babylonians,  and,  when  the  issue  of 
the  revolt  was  certain,  to  come  hither  to  face  the 
Judges  of  our  tribe.  We  have  naught  to  fear,  being 
innocent,  and  the  judgment  of  the  great  God  of  Israel 
is  ever  just,  for  He  holdeth  in  His  hands  the  scales  of 
justice  and  weigheth  men  according  to  their  desert. 
But  the  revolt  of  our  people  against  Babylon  hath 
failed." 

"  And  it  must  ever  fail,"  said  Zoar,  with  deep  melan- 
choly. 

"Nay,  not  for  ever,"  answered  Lemuel,  with  en- 
thusiasm, and  the  irrepressible  hope  and  fervour  of 
great-hearted  men.  "  There  will  come  a  day  when  the 
Conqueror  shall  enter  the  gate  of  Babylon  and  the 
city  shall  lay  its  neck  under  the  yoke  of  the  destroyer. 
Even  now  it  seemeth  to  me  that  I  hear  the  roaring  of 
the  wheels  of  his  chariots,  the  thunder  of  the  footsteps 
of  his  legions  in  the  wind." 

As  he  spake,  he  stretched  forth  his  hand  as  one  that 
hearkens. 

The  Israelites,  with  their  flaming  torches,  stood 
round  about  him,  and — moved  by  the  fire  of  his  words 
and  by  the  spell  of  his  attitude — they  listened  too, 
wrought  up  to  a  height  of  strange  excitement.  But 
they  heard  naught  save  the  long  howl  of  the  wind 
over  the  plain,  and  the  voices  of  the  tents,  which 

279 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

strained  in  the  blast  like  living  things  striving  to  be 
free.  Then  Zoar  said — 

"  The  hour  is  late,  and  men  who  labour  must  have 
rest  and  close  their  eyes  in  sleep.  To  your  tents,  oh 
ray  people.  When  Jediah  returneth  he  will  assemble 
ye,  that  the  truth  of  the  lives  of  this  man  and  this 
maiden  may  be  known  to  all." 

"  They  are  innocent,  oh  my  husband  !"  cried  Naomi, 
with  all  the  passion  of  a  mother's  love  for  her  only  son. 

But  Zoar  answered — 

"  It  may  be  so,  wife.  That  shall  certainly  be  known. 
For  God  is  above  all  and  ruleth  the  doings  of  all  men. 
Come  thou  to  thy  tent  and  bring  with  thee  this  maiden. 
She  may  need  thy  care." 

And  indeed  Elna  was  half  fainting  from  emotion 
and  from  the  weariness  of  the  long  journey  and  from 
all  the  terrible  excitement  that  she  had  endured  in 
Babylon.  Naomi  embraced  her  with  tenderness,  and 
led  her  into  the  tent  of  Zoar,  and  Lemuel  lay  apart  in 
the  tent  of  one  of  the  tribe  who  was  his  friend. 

He  too  was  weary,  yet  he  could  not  sleep,  though  he 
stretched  himself  upon  the  rugs  and  sought  to  lose  his 
soul  in  the  mazes  of  slumber.  His  brain  seemed  on 
fire  with  thought  and  his  heart  with  passion.  And  his 
hands  were  hot  as  those  of  a  man  to  whom  a  fever 
cometh.  When  he  closed  his  eyes  he  saw  in  the  dark- 
ness strange  processions  and  wild  scenes  in  Babylon. 
He  beheld  the  image  of  Bel  going  up  to  his  temple, 
with  the  doors  of  brass,  and  the  towers  lifted  towards 
the  heaven.  Before  the  image  went  the  dancing-girls. 
They  were  crowned  with  flowers.  He  saw  their  scar- 
280 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

let  robes  set  against  the  background  of  the  night. 
Their  wild  gestures  were  like  the  gestures  of  demons, 
and  the  roses  that  they  scattered  changed  into  charms 
of  hell  ere  ever  they  fell  to  the  ground.  The  priests 
followed  them,  clad  in  their  sacred  skins  of  animals. 
They  opened  their  sensual  mouths  to  sing  a  great 
hymn  to  the  god  whom  they  worshipped.  But  from 
their  lips  came  one  cry,  and  one  cry  only,  reiterated 
again  and  again — 

"  Babylon  shall  fall !  Babylon  shall  fall !" 
The  golden  god,  on  his  platform,  seemed  to  lend  an 
ear  to  their  cry  and  to  be  afraid,  as  if  he  knew  that 
both  he  and  his  religion,  the  mystery  that  gathered 
about  him  and  the  worship,  would  sink  into  the  dust. 
But  he  still  glittered  bravely  in  the  light  of  the  sun. 
And  so  he  was  borne  up  to  his  temple,  and  the  great 
gates  closed  upon  him,  and  Lemuel  saw  him  no  more. 
And  then  Lemuel  beheld  the  hanging  gardens  of  Ish- 
tar's  palace  upon  the  banks  of  the  river  Euphrates. 
It  was  night,  and  the  silver  moon  hung  in  the  purple 
dimness  of  the  sky  above  the  myriad  lights  of  Babylon. 
And  he  himself  lay  at  the  feet  of  Ishtar,  and  felt  the 
softness  of  her  touch,  the  light  air  stirred  by  the  rose- 
coloured  plumes  of  the  fan  she  held.  Eound  about 
them  were  the  Babylonians  who  ever  paid  her  court. 
And  the  pale  and  evil  face  of  Menanahim  stared  in  the 
night.  There  was  a  sound  of  far-off  music,  and  the 
Indian  girls,  in  their  gossamer  robes,  spangled  with 
silver,  sprang  and  danced.  And  as  they  waved  their 
slight  arms  the  bracelets  jingled  coldly.  Their  little 
feet,  in  golden  sandals,  beat  upon  the  gorgeous  carpets, 

28l 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

where  strange  animals  of  Asia  lay  embroidered  in  a 
coloured  crowd.  And  how  sad  the  faces  of  the  dancers 
were,  as  if  they  too,  with  their  dark  and  fatigued 
Eastern  eyes,  saw  the  dragons  moving  heavily  through 
the  crumbling  temples  and  palaces  of  the  great  and 
glorious  city,  whose  joy  they  were  ;  as  if  they  saw  the 
everlasting  sands  rising,  like  a  tide  of  the  salt  sea,  to 
choke  the  streets  that  once  were  thronged  with  buyers 
and  sellers,  with  gay  women  and  laughing  men.  And 
then  Lemuel  heard  again,  above  the  wind,  the  melodi- 
ous magic  of  the  love-song,  accompanied  by  flutes  and 
by  harps — 

"  Bind  the  cup  with  roses, 

"While  thy  love  discloses 
All  the  beauties  she  hath  veiled  from  every  eye  but  thine ; 

"While  the  wine  is  flowing, 

And  desire  is  growing, 
From  the  rose-wreathed,  brim-filled  cup  drink  to  love  and  wine. 

Have  no  thought  of  sorrow, 

There  is  no  to-morrow ; 
If  there  is,  why,  let  it  come,  so  we  may  love  to-day. 

Let  care  come  hereafter, 

Live  to-day  with  laughter, 
Let  this  moment  bring  us  joy,  the  next  bring  what  it  may." 

But  their  voices  died,  as  if  choked  by  sobs,  and  the 
night  was  alive  with  cries  of  fear.  War-drums  beat 
from  the  soldiers'  quarters,  and  there  was  the  pealing 
of  trumpets  from  the  palace  of  the  king.  Then  these 
sounds  were  stilled,  and  it  seemed  to  Lemuel  that  a 
terrible  and  everlasting  silence  fell  upon  Babylon,  the 
silence  of  death  and  of  eternal  desertion.  The  sen- 

282 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

tence  of  the  God  of  Israel  was  accomplished.  Baby- 
lon had  fallen.  There  were  no  more  love-songs  in  the 
gardens  of  the  palaces.  There  were  no  more  prayers 
offered  up  in  the  temples  of  the  gods.  The  noise  of 
feasting  was  over,  the  joy  of  desire  was  past.  The 
lawyers  toiled  no  more.  The  soothsayers  prophesied 
no  more.  No  wise  astronomers  looked  upward  to  the 
stars,  or  sought  to  read  strange  meanings  in  the  white 
face  of  the  moon.  No  sculptors  wrought  soft  clay  into 
the  likeness  of  living  men.  The  hucksters  had  ceased 
for  ever  from  crying  their  wares,  and  the  watchmen 
from  gazing  forth  from  the  towers.  Still  the  great 
river  Euphrates  flowed  on  between  its  banks,  but  no 
ships  glided  upon  its  bosom,  no  merchandise  was 
unladed  upon  its  wharves.  The  dark-eyed  traders 
from  India  and  Persia,  from  the  magical  lands  of  the 
East,  came  up  no  more  to  Babylon.  In  distant  mar- 
kets and  in  thronged  bazaars  the  name  of  the  city  was 
forgotten,  and  should  be  mentioned  no  more  by  the  lips 
of  them  that  bought  and  sold  for  ever.  For  in  the 
market-places  of  Babylon  the  wild  beast  made  its  lair, 
and  in  the  trembling  temples  the  dragons  laid  them 
down  to  sleep.  Where  the  women  once  walked  with 
their  lovers,  the  panthers  crept  on  feet  of  velvet ;  where 
the  children  had  played  the  serpent  reared  its  slimy 
brood.  And  the  wind  that  howled  in  the  night  was  the 
wind  of  the  wrath  of  God,  and  the  wind  from  the  fur- 
nace of  His  place  of  punishment. 

It  shook  the  walls  of  the  tent  in  which  Lemuel  lay. 
It  seemed  to  be  a  thing  alive,  with  hands  to  tear  and 
with  a  voice  to  speak.  And  it  seemed  to  come  straight 

283 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

from  that  far-off  place  where  God  sat  watching  ever- 
lastingly the  doings  and  the  thoughts  of  men.  Then 
Lemuel  knew  that  indeed  the  glory  of  Babylon  must 
pass  away,  whether  now  or  after  a  few  more  years  had 
glided.  And  his  heart  was  comforted  for  the  failing 
of  the  last  effort  of  Israel  to  break  free  from  the  yoke 
that  the  tyrant  had  laid  upon  its  neck. 

The  night  drew  on,  but  still  he  could  not  sleep. 
Towards  dawn  the  violence  of  the  wind  was  abated. 
It  seemed  to  fold  enormous  wings  and  to  long  at  last 
for  rest.  Then  the  visions  of  Babylon  departed  from 
Lemuel.  He  heard  no  more  the  music  of  the  city 
and  the  cries  of  its  people,  and  his  mind  shrank 
within  itself  and  occupied  itself  with  its  own  peculiar 
business.  Generally,  men  who  can  do  great  things 
concern  themselves  not  mightily  with  their  own  per- 
sonal fate.  Till  now  the  heart  of  Lemuel,  like  some 
watching  spirit,  had  hovered  about  the  huge  walls 
and  towers  of  Babylon.  Now  it  was  with  the  maiden 
Elna,  who  slept  this  night  in  the  tent  of  Naomi. 
What  would  be  her  fate  and  his  ?" 

Lemuel  asked  himself  this  question,  running  for- 
ward into  the  future.  That  seemed  dark.  For  Jediah 
would  certainly  return  to  the  tents  of  his  people  and 
cry  aloud  for  justice.  Perhaps  he  was  even  already 
upon  the  way,  his  soul  hot  with  fury  and  with  the 
desire  of  vengeance.  And  then,  as  Lemuel  looked  in 
the  face  of  death,  there  rose  within  him  the  passionate 
love  of  life  which  is  shared  by  almost  all  things  living. 
And  he,  who  had  been  so  fearless  in  Babylon  when 
Death  reached  out  to  clasp  his  hand  in  the  midst  of 

284 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

crowds  and  the  shouting  of  many  voices,  trembled 
as  he  lay  in  the  black  tent  while  the  wild  wind  sank 
to  rest.  Perhaps  the  romance  of  peace  gathered  about 
him,  and  the  tenderness  of  olden  days,  and  the  dreamy 
magic  of  return.  For  here  he  first  saw  Elna,  here 
among  these  tents,  beneath  the  palm-trees  and  by  the 
well  where  the  reeds  rustled.  Then  Bahylon  was  but 
a  thought  in  his  mind,  love  a  reality  in  his  heart. 
And  even  though  that  reality  was  sad,  because  Elna 
was  betrothed  to  Jediah,  yet  it  was  sweet  too,  as  love 
must  ever  be,  howsoe'er  frustrated,  howsoe'er  bound 
and  harassed  by  evil  fate.  Already  those  days  seemed 
very  long  ago.  For  Babylon  stood  like  a  horrible 
and  mighty  statue  of  evil  between  the  past  and  the 
present,  holding  in  her  hand  the  flaming  brand  of  sin. 
And  the  future  was  dark.  Then  Lemuel  pondered 
upon  the  strange  and  mysterious  purposes  of  the  God 
of  Israel.  As  a  shepherd  boy,  tending  his  flocks 
among  the  hills,  Lemuel  had  often  been  filled  by  an 
exultant  sense  of  power,  an  overmastering  and  in- 
spired joy — the  joy  and  the  ecstasy  of  the  seer  and 
of  the  prophet.  As  he  sat  alone  on  some  green  hill- 
side, and  played  upon  his  pipe  cut  from  a  reed  by  the 
river,  there  came  sometimes  to  him  a  certainty  that 
he  had  been  raised  up  to  bring  hope  to  his  down- 
trodden people,  to  lead  their  souls  to  the  patience  that 
is  the  child  of  hope.  There  was  no  pride  within  his 
heart,  but  the  nobility  of  youth,  of  faith,  of  dauntless 
courage,  of  iron  resolution.  He  laid  down  his  pipe 
and  looked  down  at  his  flocks,  scattered  along  the 
hillside,  and  he  thought  of  the  great  shepherd  of  Israel, 

285 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

who — perchance  through  him — would  surely  gather 
those  whom  He  had  scattered,  would  call  again  His 
chosen  flock  around  Him  in  their  own  land.  And 
then  in  such  moments,  led  by  the  imagination,  he 
would  take  up  his  pipe  and  call  again  to  his  sheep, 
and  would  whisper  to  his  soul,  "  Thus  and  thus  shall 
we  gather  to  God  at  the  last,  when  the  time  of  our 
bondage  is  over,  and  the  joy  of  our  peace  is  come." 
And  ever  he  had  thought  that,  perhaps,  he  was  chosen 
to  be  the  earthly  help  of  the  Lord  in  this  salvation. 
Inspired  by  this  thought,  he  had  put  love  from  him, 
and  had  gone  up  unto  Babylon,  and  had  endured 
calmly  both  hate  and  the  worship  of  Ishtar,  fixing 
his  eyes  on  greater  things  and  a  mighty,  though 
hidden,  purpose.  But  now,  as  he  lay  in  the  tent, 
while  the  wind  sank  and  the  dawn  grew  over  the 
plains,  a  deep  sorrow  such  as  he  had  never  known 
before  shook  him,  and  he  wondered  if  the  end  had 
come.  Then  he  understood  indeed  the  feebleness  of 
man,  and  that  we  are  all  in  the  hands  of  Him  who 
directs  the  course  of  the  stars  and  is  afar  off  beyond 
the  light  of  the  sun.  And  he  knew  that  there  had 
been  within  him  the  seed  of  pride,  from  which  might 
have  sprung  a  great  poison  flower.  For  he  had 
deemed  himself,  howsoever  modestly,  in  some  sort 
necessary  for  the  working  out  of  the  purposes  of  God. 
But  now  he  knew  that  no  man  is  necessary. 

He  saw  the  grey  light  through  the  aperture  of  the 
tent,  and  he  rose  up  softly  and  came  to  the  tent-door. 
The  morning  air  was  very  cool,  and  upon  the  grass  and 
upon  the  herbage  lay  drops  of  dew,  waiting  to  catch 

286 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

the  first  beams  of  the  rising  sun.  Lemuel  wrapped  his 
cloak  about  him  and  went  forth  into  the  plain.  The 
wonder  of  the  silence  and  of  the  cool  dawn  over  the 
great  spaces  was  very  great  to  him  who  had  grown  ac- 
customed to  the  roaring  of  the  voices  of  Babylon,  and 
to  the  tall  houses  and  the  mighty  temples,  on  whose 
shining  and  jewelled  walls  the  first  sunbeams  lay  like 
tongues  of  flame.  He  felt  once  more  that  he  was  but 
a  shepherd,  a  tender  of  the  flocks  and  herds.  And  as  a 
shepherd,  humble,  poor,  peaceful,  he  longed  to  live.  But 
he  longed  deeply  to  live.  For  life  began  to  stir  around 
him.  The  leaves,  moved  by  the  dying  breeze,  shook 
from  them  the  dewdrops.  The  flowers  opened  their 
eyes.  A  bird  sang.  Nature  herself  was  alive,  too,  in 
every  plant  and  bush,  in  the  thickets  of  the  palms,  in 
the  thickets  of  the  clouds  that  grew  around  the  red  sun 
on  the  horizon  of  the  east,  in  the  sun  itself,  which  now 
stretched  forth  its  fingers  of  gold  to  touch  the  smiling 
face  of  the  world. 

And,  passing  beyond  the  tents,  Lemuel  leaned  against 
a  tree-trunk  and  searched  the  plain  with  his  eyes.  He 
thought  that  in  its  wide  emptiness  and  silence  it  was 
like  a  vision  of  eternity,  melting  away  on  every  side 
into  the  shadows  where  the  night  was  swiftly  retreating. 
But  suddenly  he  started  and  clinched  his  hands  to- 
gether. For  a  beam  of  the  sun  had  fallen  upon  the 
grim  Judgment  Seat  that  rose  up  in  the  plains,  an  em- 
blem of  the  inflexible  deeds  of  Fate  rather  than  of  the 
inflexible  deeds  of  Justice.  For  Justice  would  raise  no 
hand  upon  Elna,  no  hand  upon  Lemuel.  But  Fate  ? 
Would  Fate  stay  her  hand  upon  them?  Exquisite  was 

287 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

the  peace  of  the  plain,  and  exquisite  the  vision  of  the 
morning.  The  silence  was  breathing  like  a  child  that 
will  soon  awake,  and  a  scented  warmth  crept  about  the 
happy  earth.  But  cold  was  the  great  Seat  of  Judg- 
ment, stern  and  pitiless.  Lemuel  could  not  take  his 
eyes  from  it.  No  crowd  stood  round  about  it  now.  No 
Judge  mounted  upon  its  steps  of  stone.  No  trumpet 
rang  through  the  air  to  proclaim  the  passing  of  sentence. 
No  prisoners  shrank  beneath  its  shadow.  Not  yet — 
not  yet ! 

But  Jediah  would  return,  soon  or  late.  And  an  un- 
just doom  might  indeed  overwhelm  two  innocent  ones. 
For  himself  Lemuel  now  scarcely  cared.  The  coming 
forth  into  the  morning,  the  vision  of  the  dawn,  move- 
ment and  sight  had  recalled  the  courage  within  him, 
and  chased  away  the  fear  that  had  beset  him  as  he  lay 
within  the  blackness  of  the  tent.  But  tears  rose  to  his 
eyes  as  he  thought  of  Elna,  and  that  she  might  perish 
under  the  vengeance  of  Jediah ;  that  her  delicate  body 
might  be  crushed  with  the  cruel  stones,  her  life  beaten 
out  of  her  because  she  had,  as  all  women,  loved — 
though  she  had  loved  innocently. 

A  figure  rose  up  from  the  ground  by  the  Judgment 
Seat.  Lemuel,  perceiving  it  from  afar,  supposed  it  to 
be  some  shepherd  on  his  way  to  tend  the  flocks.  He 
knew  not  that  it  was  blind  Justice  waiting  the  inevi- 
table time.  As  he  turned  away  to  return  again  to  the 
tents,  he  saw,  far  off  upon  the  plain,  coming  from  the 
direction  of  Babylon,  some  moving  specks,  almost  hid- 
den by  the  mists  of  dawn.  They  were  so  faint,  so 
distant,  that  at  first  he  was  hardly  certain  if  indeed  he 

288 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

saw  them,  or  if  indeed  they  moved.  He  stood  still  to 
watch  them,  and  presently  a  certainty  came  upon  him 
that  they  were  approaching.  Doubtless,  this  was  a 
caravan  coming  from  Babylon.  It  drew  nearer,  actu- 
ally with  rapidity,  though — since,  at  present,  it  was  so 
distant — it  seemed  to  Lemuel  to  move  but  with  slow- 
ness and  even  with  a  sort  of  mysterious  deliberation. 
The  main  highway  for  the  caravans  across  the  plain 
did  not  traverse  the  dwellings  of  Zoar  and  of  his 
people,  but  was  at  some  distance  from  them,  upon  the 
right,  and  nearer  to  the  hills,  which  loomed,  like  faint 
shadows,  far  off  upon  the  horizon.  Lemuel  now  stood 
still  to  see  whether  the  approaching  caravan  would 
continue  upon  the  highway  or  would  presently  turn 
towards  the  tents,  thus  proving  to  him  that  those 
travelling  from  Babylon  were  coming  thither  to  his 
tribe,  to  the  habitations  of  his  people.  The  thought 
in  his  mind  was  that  this  caravan  might  be  Jediah  and 
his  followers,  who  had  learned  the  news  of  his  forced 
escape,  with  Elna,  from  Babylon.  And,  while  he 
gazed,  a  flood  of  thought  swept  through  his  mind,  as 
it  sweeps  through  the  mind  of  one  who  is  drowning  in 
the  sea.  He  saw  flashing  visions  of  the  past,  heard 
words  spoken  that  had  been  spoken  long  ago,  felt 
again  sensations  long  forgotten.  Yet,  all  the  time,  his 
eyes  never  left  the  moving  specks  that  crept,  like 
insects,  upon  the  surface  of  the  plain.  They  drew 
nearer  and  nearer,  almost  imperceptibly  increasing  in 
size  to  his  watchfulness.  Yet  they  were  still  at  some 
distance  from  the  place  where  they  must  change  their 
direction,  if  they  were  indeed  minded  to  gain  the  tents. 
'9  289 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

They  were  still  at  some  distance,  and  Lemuel  could 
have  no  certainty  that  they  were  not  traders  bearing 
rich  merchandise  from  Babylon — embroideries,  woven 
carpets,  chased  vessels,  and  engraved  jewels.  Or  they 
might  be  slave-dealers,  who  had  been  up  to  the  city 
from  their  distant  homes  to  buy  the  captives  who  were 
almost  daily  offered  for  sale.  Or  they  might  be  lead- 
ing with  them  horses  bred  in  the  district  around  the 
city,  and  acquired  in  exchange  for  the  products  of 
foreign  places  where  dwelt  strange  men  and  the  land 
gave  forth  strange  gifts  to  them  that  inhabited  it. 
The  caravan  might  well  pass  on,  turning  neither  to 
the  right  hand  nor  to  the  left. 

Yet  already  from  Lemuel  had  fled  the  sense  of  peace 
on  earth.  No  longer  did  he  realise  the  loveliness  of 
nature,  for  his  soul  was  full  of  memories  and  of  the 
cruel  deeds  of  men.  He  could  almost  hear  the  clamour 
of  voices  around  the  Judgment  Seat,  the  trampling  of 
feet,  the  cries  of  women — even  the  bitter  sobbing  of 
his  mother,  Naomi,  pleading  for  mercy  and  for  the 
life  of  her  only  son.  For  something  within  his  soul 
whispered — 

"  It  is  Jediah  who  cometh.  His  hands  are  swift  to 
shed  blood." 

Now  he  thought  that  he  could  almost  discern  the 
camels  and  their  peculiar  gait,  deceitful  in  its  appear- 
ance of  slowness,  yet  devouring  the  ground — that  he 
could  wellnigh  perceive  the  hooded  men  rocking  to 
the  motion.  The  caravan  was,  indeed,  approaching 
rapidly — Lemuel  fancied  with  the  rapidity  of  hatred, 
the  speed  of  intense  cruelty  that  journeys  to  its  goal. 

290 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

A  bird  rose  from  the  grasses  near  his  feet.  It 
mounted  into  the  clear  air  towards  the  sun,  singing  a 
song  that  was  an  ecstasy  of  joy. 

The  caravan  turned  from  the  highway  and  directed 
itself  towards  the  tents  of  Zoar. 


291 


CHAPTEK   XVI 

THEN  Lemuel  knew  that  the  great  hour  of  his  life 
was  upon  him.  For  one  moment  he  stood  still,  turning 
his  eyes  away  from  the  caravan,  and  fixing  them,  not 
upon  the  plain,  now  swimming  in  the  glory  of  a 
golden  haze,  not  upon  the  Judgment  Seat,  but  upon 
the  mounting  bird,  a  quivering  ball  of  feathers  en- 
closing a  heaven  of  music.  It  rose  slowly  in  the  air, 
trembling  its  tiny  wings  so  rapidly  that  they  seemed 
motionless.  It  grew  smaller  and  smaller  to  his  sight, 
and  the  sound  of  its  song  withdrew  towards  the  blue 
spaces  of  the  sky,  fading,  fainting,  yet  always  intense 
with  rapture,  thrilling  with  a  joy  so  perfect,  so  fiery 
as  to  be  unearthly.  And  that  song  of  the  bird,  sink- 
ing down  from  the  purity  of  heaven,  fell  like  a  drop 
of  magic  liquid  into  the  very  heart  of  Lemuel.  He 
trembled  as  if  an  angel  had  touched  him,  and  his  soul 
followed  the  bird  in  prayer. 

Then,  with  a  great  brightness  upon  his  face,  he 
walked  swifty  towards  the  tents. 

There  was  a  stir  among  them.  The  people  of  the 
tribe,  roused  from  their  slumbers,  were  preparing  to 
go  about  the  labours  of  the  day.  Men  came  forth 
drawing  their  long,  loose  robes  about  them,  their  eyes 
still  cloudy  and  unobservant  with  sleep.  Children 
rolled  upon  the  grass,  shouting  and  laughing  with 
the  gaiety  engendered  by  rest.  Women,  lifting  up 

292 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

from  the  ground  their  pitchers,  poised  them  delicately 
upon  their  heads,  and  walked  towards  the  well  of 
Naomi.  No  one,  as  yet,  had  seen  the  approaching 
caravan.  No  one,  as  yet,  knew  that  it  was  drawing 
near.  Only  Lemuel  fancied  he  could  hear  the  soft 
tread  of  the  camels  upon  the  rank  herbage,  the  hum 
and  mutter  of  the  voices  of  the  riders.  And  this  was 
but  an  illusion  of  his  senses.  Instinctively,  as  he  came 
to  the  tents,  he  looked  towards  the  tent  of  his  mother, 
Naomi.  His  father,  Zoar,  who  was  well  stricken  in 
years,  still  slept  on,  or,  at  least,  reposed  his  aged  limbs. 
But  Naomi  now  came  forth,  and  with  her,  embraced 
tenderly  byj~  her  arm,  she  led  Elna.  Lemuel  paused. 
His  heart  was  very  full  as  he  looked  on  the  face  of 
Elna,  so  innocent  and  girlish,  yet  so  resolute  and 
strongly  pure.  His  heart  was  very  full  of  love,  but 
it  was  no  longer  sad.  For  the  bird's  song  was  in  it, 
and  was  mingled  with  the  song  of  courage  that  is  ever 
in  the  heart  of  the  true  man  who  has  done  no  wrong 
to  his  neighbour. 

Naomi  lifted  up  her  eyes  and  beheld  her  son.  She 
loosed  her  arm  from  about  the  slender  form  of  Elna, 
and  came  swiftly  to  Lemuel,  and  fell  upon  his  neck 
and  kissed  him.  And  the  tears  gushed  from  her  eyes 
upon  his  face. 

"  Nay,  mother,"  he  said  gently,  "  why  weepest 
thou?" 

"From  joy,  son  of  my  soul,  and  from  terror,"  an- 
swered Naomi.  "  For  thou  art  indeed  returned  unto 
me  from  the  great  and  cruel  Babylon — and  I  give 
thanks  to  the  God  of  our  fathers.  But — but " 

293 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

And  her  tears  flowed  as  she  clasped  Lemuel  again  to 
her  breast. 

"  If  thy  brother — if  Jediah,"  she  murmured,  "  should 
return !  But  he  may  not.  They  say  death  waits  for 
Israelites  in  Babylon.  Nay,  I  am  wicked.  My  heart 
is  turned  unto  evil  thoughts.  I  know  not  what  I  say. 
But,  oh !  I  cannot  lose  thee,  my  son,  my  son!" 

"Mother,"  said  Lemuel,  "be  not  afraid.  God  watch- 
eth  over  us,  over  thee  and  me,  and — and  this  maiden. 
Elna,  thou  art  not  afraid  ?" 

Elna  looked  up  into  his  face.  Perhaps  she  heard 
that  song  in  his  heart,  or  the  light  that  shone  in  his 
eyes  uplifted  her  soul.  For  she  answered  simply — 

"  I  fear  nothing,  Lemuel.  If  thou  livest,  I  would 
live  with  thee.  If  thou  diest,  I  would  die  with  thee. 
I  fear  nothing." 

"  May  the  God  of  Israel  grant  that  Jediah  may  never 
return  !"  cried  Naomi.  "  For  if,  indeed,  he  doth " 

*'  Mother,"  said  Lemuel,  clasping  her  trembling  hand 
in  his,  "  Elna — Jediah,  my  brother,  will  return.  He  is 
already  near." 

"Nay,"  said  Naomi,  "nay,  Lemuel;  that  cannot 
be!" 

But  Lemuel  answered — 

"  But  now,  as  I  looked  forth  upon  the  plain,  far  off 
I  did  behold  a  caravan  of  men  journeying  from  Baby- 
lon." 

Naomi  trembled  as  if  she  would  fall,  but  Elna  moved 
not,  nor  did  the  shadow  of  fear  come  into  her  face. 

"  It  is  a  caravan  of  merchants,  my  son,"  cried 
Naomi.  "  It  is  a  caravan  of  traders  going  towards  the 

294 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

east.  They  do  ever  pass,  as  thou  knowest,  upon  the 
great  highway." 

"  Do  they  turn  aside  from  the  great  highway,  my 
mother?"  answered  Lemuel. 

Naomi's  face  was  full  of  terror,  but  she  replied 
quickly — 

"Yea.  Why  not,  my  son?  Perchance  they  do 
need  to  refill  the  water-skins,  or  to  rest  awhile,  or  to 
buy  food  from  our  people.  Yea,  yea,  it  is  ever  so. 
They  have  even  turned  aside  to  rest  a  while,  and  after- 
wards they  will  continue  their  journey.  My  heart  tells 
me  it  is  so." 

And  she  smiled,  but  her  sweet  face  was  alive  with  a 
pitiful  anxiety,  and  her  lips  were  white  as  the  dead 
ashes. 

"  Mother,"  said  Lemuel,  putting  his  arms  around  her, 
"  my  heart  tells  me  these  are  no  merchants  or  traders, 
but  Jediah  and  Adoram.  And  it  is  better  so.  Elna 
and  thy  son  are  not  guilty  ones.  "Why,  then,  should 
we  fear  ?  Look  up  to  the  God  of  justice.  Let  us  put 
our  trust  in  Him,  and  men  can  do  us  no  hurt.  Hark ! 
Dost  thou  not  hear  the  caravan  approaching  among  the 
palm-trees  ?" 

Even  as  he  spoke  there  came  to  their  ears  the  sound 
of  voices  urging  forward  the  camels,  and  an  Israelitish 
shepherd,  who  had  been  setting  forth  to  drive  the 
flocks  to  the  pastures,  rushed  in  among  the  tents  cry- 
ing— 

"Our  Lord  and  Judge,  Jediah,  is  come  in  from 
Babylon,  and  with  him  are  Adoram  and  Jozadah. 
Jediah  is  at  hand  I" 

295 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

Hearing  his  cry,  the  Israelites  began  to  assemble 
themselves  together.  The  children  ceased  from  play- 
ing, and  stood  silently  staring  with  round  eyes ;  and 
the  aged  Zoar,  rising  up  from  the  couch  within  his 
tent,  came  forth  folding  his  robe  about  him  and  leaning 
heavily  upon  his  staff.  Naomi  uttered  a  cry  of  terror, 
but  Lemuel  clasped  her  more  closely  with  his  strong 
arms,  and  whispered — 

"  Mother,  be  brave.     There  is  naught  to  fear." 

Tirzah  had  now  come  up.  She  went  to  Blna  and 
took  her  hand.  And  thus  they  were  standing  when 
the  cavaran  came  in  among  the  tents. 

The  camels  were  flecked  with  foam.  They  had 
been  driven  ceaselessly  onward  through  all  the  dark 
hours  of  the  night,  and  they  were  weary.  The  men 
that  rode  them  could  scarce  cling  to  the  rough  packs 
used  as  saddles.  Only  Jediah,  who  rode  upon  the  first 
camel,  sat  upright,  staring  before  him  as  one  that  be- 
holds his  prey. 

When  he  saw  the  group  of  Israelites  before  the 
tents,  with  Lemuel  and  with  Blna  in  their  midst,  a 
wild  cry  of  exultation  broke  from  his  lips.  He  beat 
his  camel  down  upon  its  knees,  sprang  off,  and  stood 
before  them,  trembling.  The  people  were  in  amaze 
at  the  wildness  of  his  demeanour,  and  Zoar,  stepping 
forward,  said — 

"  Jediah,  my  son,  be  patient !  Thy  brother  is  here 
before  thee,  as  thou  seest." 

"  And  the  maiden,"  said  Jediah,  slowly,  in  a  thick 
voice.  "  God  hath  given  them  into  my  hands  at  last, 
—at  last !" 

296 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

A  smile  of  appalling  exultation  spread  over  his  face. 
Naomi  shrank  against  Lemuel's  side,  and  her  hand  in 
his  grew  cold  as  the  dew  in  the  dawning.  Zoar  laid  his 
hand  gently,  yet  with  authority,  upon  Jediah's  shoulder. 

"  Thou  needest  rest,  my  son,"  he  said.  "  Thou  art 
weary  with  travel,  and  can  indeed  scarcely  stand 
upright.  Come  into  the  tent.  I  would  speak  with 
thee  alone." 

"  I  am  not  weary,  my  father,"  Jediah  answered 
hoarsely.  "  Summon  the  elders  and  all  the  people." 

"  Nay,  but  I  will  speak  with  thee,"  answered  Zoar. 
"  Follow  me,  Jediah,  I  do  command  thee." 

And,  with  a  strength  almost  superhuman  in  one  of 
his  years,  he  drew  Jediah  towards  the  tent.  At  the 
door  he  turned,  and,  speaking  to  the  people  who  were 
murmuring  excitedly  among  themselves,  he  said — 

"  Wait,  oh  my  people.  Shortly  I  will  be  with  ye 
again." 

Then  he  entered  into  the  tent  with  Jediah.  Once 
within  its  shadow,  and  concealed  from  the  gaze  of  all, 
he  placed  his  wrinkled  hands  upon  the  shoulders  of 
Jediah,  and,  looking  into  his  fierce  and  blazing  eyes,  he 
said — 

"  Thou  hast  found  them,  my  son.  But  thou  wilt  not 
harm  thine  own  brother  ?" 

"  I  will  have  justice,"  said  Jediah. 

And  his  voice  was  cold  as  the  water's  voice  when  it 
falleth  upon  the  rock. 

"  Thou  wilt  take  the  sin  of  Cain  upon  thy  head,  my 
son  ?"  said  Zoar. 

"  I  will  have  justice,"  reiterated  Jediah. 
297 


THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

"  Thou  wilt  break  the  heart  of  her  who  hath  been  to 
thee  as  thine  own  mother  ?" 

"  The  Law  shall  strike  for  me,"  said  Jediah.  "  The 
Law  of  Israel.  And  to  that  end  will  I  call  the  people 
of  Israel  together." 

"  My  son — thou  wilt  be  merciful  ?" 

"  I  will  be  just,  oh  my  father." 

"  Just  ?"  said  Zoar,  with  deep  significance.  "  Can  he 
be  just  whose  heart's  desire  is  vengeance  ?  Can  he  be 
just  who  would  spill  the  blood  of  his  kindred  and  of 
the  maiden  whom  he  hath  loved  ?  Oh  my  son,  hearken 
unto  me.  God  is  very  pitiful.  He  forgiveth  us  many 
things,  for  He  seeth  into  our  hearts,  and  knoweth  that 
we,  and  all  men,  are  weak  as  water." 

"  I  will  not  forgive.     I  will  have  justice." 

"  Nay — mercy ! — mercy !"  cried  a  trembling  voice. 

Zoar  turned  and  saw  the  form  of  Naomi  in  the 
tent-door.  Her  tender  eyes  were  full  of  tears,  and 
now,  hastening  forward,  she  caught  Jediah  by  the 
cloak.  In  her  agony  she  scarce  knew  what  she  did. 
She  forgot  that  Jediah  should  show  her  reverence  as 
the  wife  of  his  father.  She  forgot  all  save  that  her 
son,  her  only  son,  Lemuel,  was  in  danger,  perhaps  of 
death.  She  fell  down  at  the  feet  of  Jediah  and  bathed 
his  feet  with  her  tears. 

"  He  is  innocent !"  she  sobbed.  "  Lemuel  is  innocent 
of  all  offence  against  thee.  Let  him  go  in  peace,  I 
beseech  thee !" 

Zoar  was  deeply  moved,  but  Jediah  seemed  hardly 
to  hear  the  cry  of  Naomi,  hardly  to  feel  the  grasp  of 
her  hands  upon  his  robe. 

298 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  Speak  not  to  me  of  pity,"  he  said.  "  I  do  live  only 
for  justice.  Let  the  people  be  summoned,  and  let  the 
Judges  of  our  tribe  be  called  together.  I  have  wit- 
nesses to  the  guilt  of  these  twain  in  Babylon.  Let 
Israel's  Judges  decide  betwixt  us." 

Zoar  leaned  down  and  tenderly  raised  up  Naomi. 

"  Have  courage,  wife !"  he  whispered.  "  It  must  be. 
Put  thou  thy  trust  in  God." 

Naomi  sobbed  and  hid  her  face  against  the  breast  of 
her  husband.  Then  Zoar  went  forth  to  the  tent-door, 
and  the  people  gathered  around  him.  Jediah  stood 
behind  him,  in  the  shadow  of  the  tent,  and  Lemuel  and 
Elna  remained  apart,  awaiting  calmly  that  which 
should  be  done. 

"  My  people,"  said  Zoar,  and  old  though  he  was  and 
well  stricken  in  years,  there  was  majesty  in  his  aspect 
and  his  voice  was  clear  and  strong,  "  my  people,  Jediah, 
who  hath  come  in  from  Babylon,  doth  demand  that  a 
cause  shall  be  tried,  and  that  the  voice  of  the  Judges 
of  Israel  shall  be  heard  in  a  great  matter,  touching  the 
truth  and  innocence  of  Lemuel,  the  son  of  my  old  age, 
and  the  maiden  Elna,  who  is  known  to  ye  all.  Go  ye 
to  your  tents  until  the  sun  be  but  one  hour  higher  in 
the  heaven,  and  bend  ye  all  the  knee  in  prayer,  to  the 
Judge  of  all  things,  that  indeed  justice  may  be  done 
and  the  truth  for  ever  known  before  Heaven  and  in 
the  sight  of  men.  And  when  the  trumpet  shall  sound 
forth,  assemble  yourselves  together  in  the  plain  before 
the  Judgment  Seat.  To  your  tents,  O  Israel — fall 
upen  the  ground  and  pray." 

As  he  spake  thus,  he  had  solemnly  uplifted  his  two 
299 


THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

hands  towards  the  heaven.  Now  he  let  them  fall  with 
a  gesture  of  dignified  submission.  And  all  the  people, 
obedient  to  his  voice,  turned  and  went  silently  to  their 
tents.  Only  Lemuel  and  Elna,  apart  from  the  others, 
fell  down  upon  their  knees  where  they  had  stood,  and 
their  lips  moved  in  silent  prayer.  A  great  and  mys- 
terious quietude  lay  about  the  encampment.  The  voice 
of  all  activity  was  hushed  while  the  sun  mounted 
slowly  up  the  sky.  Only  Jediah  stole  through  the 
palm-trees  and  called  softly  to  him  Adoram  and  Joz- 
adah. 

"  The  hour  is  at  hand,"  he  said  unto  Adoram.  "  Thou 
wilt  not  swerve  or  falter  ?  Thou  art  prepared  to  swear 
before  the  Judges  of  the  people  that  thou  hast  seen 
these  two,  Lemuel  and  Elna,  together  in  Babylon  ?" 

Adoram  did  not  lift  up  his  eyes,  but  looked  down 
upon  the  ground  as  he  answered  uneasily — 

"  Yea,  if  thou  dost  reward  me  as  thou  hast  promised." 

"  I  will  reward  thee,  be  sure.  Why  dost  thou  doubt 
me  ?"  said  Jediah,  with  bitter  impatience. 

"I  know  not,"  answered  Adoram.  "Art  thou  in 
very  truth  assured  that  these  two  are  guilty  ?" 

"  Thou  fool,  have  I  not  told  thee  so  ?  Thou  craven 
heart — of  what  art  thou  afraid  ?" 

Adoram  was  silent  for  a  moment.  In  the  silence 
these  men  heard  from  the  tents  a  faint  murmur — the 
voices  of  the  Israelites  offering  up  their  prayers  to  the 
God  of  justice. 

"  I  fear  the  wrath  of  Heaven — if  indeed  they  are 
innocent,"  muttered  Adoram. 

Jediah  uttered  an  imprecation. 
300 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  I  tell  thee  they  are  guilty !"  he  cried  furiously. 
"  Did  she  not  follow  him  to  Babylon,  having  put  on 
man's  attire?" 

"  Yes,  it  is  true.  She  must  have  sinned.  Give  me 
my  reward,  and  I  will  testify  as  thou  dost  desire." 

"  And  thou,  Jozadah  ?"  said  Jediah. 

"  Tea,  else  why  have  I  come  hither  ?"  Jozadah  an- 
swered quickly.  Then  he  added,  with  an  indescribable 
greediness  that  was  hideous,  "  I  shall  be  paid — and  I 
shall  have  Tirzah  ?" 

"  Have  I  not  sworn  it  ?  See !  the  sun  mounts  in  the 
heaven.  The  hour  is  at  hand." 

Even  as  he  spoke,  Zoar,  calm  and  serene  as  one  who 
puts  his  trust  in  the  Euler  of  all  things,  came  forth 
from  his  tent,  and  said  to  an  Israelite — 

"  It  is  the  hour.  Now  go.  Summon  the  heads  of 
the  people,  the  fathers  and  the  elders.  Call  them  from 
the  tents  and  the  fields.  With  the  trumpet  call  them." 

The  Israelite  obeyed  the  command,  and  now  the 
silence  that  had  lain  about  the  camp  was  broken.  The 
shrill  note  of  a  trumpet  pealed  forth  again  and  again, 
now  near  among  the  tents,  now  far,  softened  and  almost 
mysterious,  as  the  herald  of  Justice  passed  on  into  the 
plain. 

His  call  was  heard  by  the  blind  man  who  sat  alone 
in  the  shadow  of  the  Judgment  Seat.  The  blind  man 
started  to  his  feet  and  listened  with  a  strained  attention. 

"  Surely  it  is  the  call  of  Israel  to  judgment,"  he  mur- 
mured. "  It  is  to  summon  the  Judges  and  the  elders 
for  some  great  matter." 

He  waited  where  he  was.  The  warm  sun  fell  upon 
301 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

him,  for  the  morning  was  deepening  over  the  plain. 
He  heard  the  long  note  of  the  trumpet,  now  loud,  now 
low,  near  and  far,  and  excitement  grew  in  him.  For  it 
seemed  to  him  that  the  music  called  not  unto  the  tribes 
of  Zoar,  not  unto  the  men  of  the  fields,  to  the  fathers 
and  the  elders,  but  to  him  alone.  It  was  like  unto  the 
voice  in  his  own  heart  that  had  suffered  so  long  and  so 
bitterly,  the  voice  that  had  bidden  him  to  go  out  from 
Babylon  and  to  return  unto  the  tents  of  his  own  kin- 
dred. All  sense  of  fatigue  left  him  as  he  hearkened. 
The  strength  and  the  vigour  of  youth  returned  to  him. 
And  the  trumpet-note  pealing  through  the  warm  air 
was  like  a  blaze  of  fire  springing  up  about  him,  and  fire 
ran,  surely,  in  his  veins  instead  of  blood.  And  he  felt 
even  as  if  fire  glowed  in  those  pitiful  caverns  where 
once,  long  ago,  his  eyes  had  looked  forth  upon  the 
beauty  and  upon  the  brightness  of  the  world.  Thus 
he  waited,  braced  and  intense,  like  a  man  who  is  pre- 
paring himself  for  some  great  action  of  his  life. 

The  sound  of  the  trumpet  died  away  towards  the 
tents.  There  was  a  long  silence,  and  then  a  distant 
murmur  of  voices,  a  distant  tramp  of  many  feet. 

In  answer  to  the  cry  of  Zoar  and  to  the  sounding  of 
the  trumpet,  the  Israelites  rose  up  from  their  prayers 
and  came  forth  into  the  sun.  The  majesty  of  petition 
lay,  surely,  still  upon  their  faces,  for  the  men  looked 
calm  and  grave,  the  women  uplifted  and  serene.  Only 
Naomi  trembled,  and  in  her  eyes  the  fear  lay  behind 
the  tears.  And  the  children,  holding  the  hands  of 
their  mothers,  stared  with  round  gravity  and  marvelled 

302 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

much  what  strange  matter  might  be  afoot.  Two  of 
them,  of  an  age  to  comprehend,  were  crying  gently. 
These  were  they  whom  Lemuel  had  taken  up  in  his 
arms  and  kissed  when  he  bade  farewell  to  his  people 
ere  he  went  up  to  Babylon.  They  loved  Lemuel,  and 
knew  that  his  life  was  in  great  danger,  and  terror  came 
to  them.  They  feared  the  harsh  cry  of  the  trumpet. 
They  feared  the  gathering  of  the  people.  One  of  them 
pulled  at  the  hand  of  the  other,  and  whispered,  under 
his  breath — 

"  Let  us  go  to  him  and  kiss  him,  as  ere  he  went 
away." 

Then  they  ran  to  the  place  where  Lemuel  and  Elna 
stood  apart,  waiting  what  might  befall,  and  fell  on  his 
neck,  and  lifted  their  soft  lips  to  his  and  kissed  him. 

And,  at  the  sight,  for  the  first  time  the  calm  of 
Elna  went  from  her,  and  the  tears  rose  up  in  her  eyes. 
Lemuel  put  the  children  gently  from  him,  and,  as  they 
ran  back  to  their  mothers,  he  said  to  Elna — 

"Thinkest  thou,  Elna,  that  had  we  indeed  been 
guilty,  the  children  would  have  come  to  us?  Nay! 
for  God  often  putteth  truth  into  the  hearts  of  little 
children  when  He  hideth  it  for  a  while  from  the  wise 
and  those  that  are  stricken  in  years.  Let  us,  then,  go 
forth  to  the  Judgment  armed,  thou  and  I,  by  the  love 
and  the  trust  of  little  children." 

Even  as  he  spoke,  the  Israelites  surrounded  them 
to  lead  them  forth  into  the  plain.  There  was  a  silence 
upon  all  the  people.  They  moved  as  men  taken  by 
a  great  awe,  and  their  faces  were  stern  with  jus- 
tice. They  loved  Lemuel  well.  They  had  learned 

303 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

to  look  to  him  as  their  saviour.  But  their  sense  of 
justice  was  graven  on  their  hearts  as  a  word  may  be 
graven  on  granite.  It  outweighed  love  and  fear,  and 
desire  of  release  from  slavery,  and  deep  admiration  of 
the  bravery  of  a  man.  The  laws  of  Israel  were  to 
them  more  than  were  ever  their  laws  to  the  Medes 
and  the  Persians.  And  the  man  who  offended  against 
those  laws,  whatsoever  his  rank,  his  talent,  his  impor- 
tance to  his  nation,  must  die.  They  had  looked  to 
Lemuel  as  to  a  Messiah.  But  justice  was  before  all, 
and  now  justice  must  be  done.  So  their  faces  were 
stern  as  they  came  about  him  silently  to  lead  him  to 
the  Judgment  Seat. 

Jediah  stood  at  a  little  distance,  watching.  With 
him  were  his  witnesses,  Adoram  and  Jozadah.  Among 
the  stern  and  calm  Israelites,  with  their  prayerful  eyes 
and  their  silent  dignity,  his  aspect  of  unbridled  ferocity 
and  blazing  exultation  seemed  inhuman  and  horribly 
grotesque.  His  bloodshot  eyes  were  fixed  upon  Lem- 
uel and  Elna.  The  fingers  of  his  hands  were  twisted 
together  like  those  of  a  man  overtaken  by  a  sudden 
shock  of  paralysis.  There  was  foam  about  his  bearded 
lips,  and  at  moments  his  body  was  shaken  as  by  a  palsy. 

"If  thou  wilt  indeed  accuse  thy  brother  and  thy 
betrothed,"  said  Zoar  unto  him,  "  behold,  the  hour  is 
come.  Here  be  the  Judges,  the  elders  and  the  peo- 
ple. Wilt  thou  that  they  go  forth  to  the  Judgment 
Seat?" 

"  I  do  will  it,"  said  Jediah  hoarsely.  "  I  do  will  it. 
I  will  have  justice !  They  shall  both  die." 

"  That  must  first  of  all  be  judged,"  answered  Zoar. 

304 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

Then  he  returned  to  the  people,  and  said — 
"  To  the  Judgment  Seat,  oh  my  people.     Lead  forth 
the  man  Lemuel  and  the  maiden  Elna." 

It  was  then  that  Johanan,  where  he  stood  afar  by 
the  Judgment  Seat,  heard  the  murmur  of  voices  and 
the  tramp  of  feet.  For  now  the  people  broke  through 
the  strange  and  terrible  silence  they  had  kept.  The 
excitement  that  comes  ever  upon  crowds  ran  through 
them,  from  man  to  man,  from  woman  to  woman. 
And  the  noise  of  their  many  voices  was  like  the 
deep  murmur  of  the  sea.  It  thrilled  through  the 
blind  man's  heart,  and  it  was  strange  to  him,  for  he 
could  see  nothing.  Only  he  felt  the  sun  upon  him  and 
the,  soft  air  about  him,  and  heard  the  noise  of  the 
approaching  multitude  grow  ever  louder  and  louder  in 
his  ears.  At  first  he  could  distinguish  no  words.  All 
were  lost  in  the  dull  and  ceaseless  murmur.  But  pres- 
ently, as  the  crowd  drew  closer,  he  heard  cries  of 
"  Justice !  Justice  before  the  God  of  Israel !" 

And,  standing  there  alone,  he  murmured  beneath  his 
breath — 

"  Justice !  Justice  before  the  God  of  Israel !" 
The  crowd  came  on  across  the  plain.  First  walked 
the  Judges  and  Zoar,  supporting  Naomi,  who  was  faint 
with  fear,  and  who  walked  as  one  in  a  dream,  scarce 
knowing  whither  or  for  what  purpose,  but  ever  accom- 
panied by  darkness  and  by  the  horror  of  the  dull 
sense  that  the  world  was  heavy  with  some  deep  mis- 
fortune. Behind  them  came  Jediah  with  his  witnesses, 
to  whom  he  spake  in  a  low  voice  from  time  to  time. 
Then  followed  the  people,  with  Lemuel  and  Elna 

20  305 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

escorted  in  their  midst.  Near  Elna  walked  Tirzah. 
Her  face  was  deadly  pale,  and  her  lips  moved  ever  in 
prayer.  And  as  Elna  drew  near  to  the  Judgment 
Seat  her  mind  went  back  along  the  ways  of  the  past, 
to  the  time  when  she  was  a  child.  She  saw  again  the 
crowd  gathered  around  a  youth  and  a  maiden  who  had 
been  found  in  sin.  She  heard  again  the  condemnation 
pronounced  upon  them.  Then  she  had  wept  sore. 
She  had  cried  out  piteously.  She  had  clasped  the  robe 
of  Jediah.  She  had  felt  as  if  she  herself  went  down 
to  death  and  was  murdered  by  the  cruel  stones.  Yet 
now  that  such  an  hour  had  come  to  her,  and  that 
Jediah  was  to  be  her  accuser,  she  neither  wept  nor  did 
she  tremble.  Nor  did  she  feel  as  one  who  walks  to 
meet  a  great  sorrow.  For  she  bethought  her  of  the 
words  that  Jediah  himself  had  spoken  unto  her — 

"  The  deeds  that  we  do,  whether  good  or  evil,  return 
to  us  again  to  give  us  our  reward.  They  may  tarry 
long  on  their  journey,  as  tarry  the  great  caravans 
that  come  from  the  desert,  and  peradventure  we  may 
say  that  they  will  never  come.  But  there  surely 
dawneth  a  day  when  they  do  stand  before  us,  and  in 
their  hand  they  do  bear  the  gift — life  for  the  good, 
death  for  the  evil." 

If  those  words  were  indeed  true,  did  death  then 
wait,  here  by  the  Seat  of  Justice,  for  her  and  for 
Lemuel  ? 

The  crowd  spread  round  the  Judgment  Seat  as  the 
sea  beats  round  a  rock.  Johanan,  the  blind  man,  was 
swallowed  up  in  it.  But  no  one  knew  him,  nor  heeded 
him,  for  all  the  people  were  intent  upon  Lemuel  and 

306 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

upon  that  which  should  be  done.  Upon  the  mound, 
in  the  view  of  all,  were  the  Sanhedrim,  or  Council  of 
seventy-two. 

Unseen  by  them  and  by  those  around  them,  a  cara- 
van, travelling  rapidly  from  the  direction  of  Babylon, 
swept  along  the  highway  towards  the  plain.  The 
riders  urged  on  the  camels  at  a  frantic  pace,  beating 
them  with  whips  and  crying  to  them  to  hasten. 

Being  upon  the  Seat  in  the  view  of  all  the  people, 
with  Zoar  in  the  centre,  and  Jediah  close  upon  his 
right  hand,  the  Judges  sat  them  down  in  silence.  Then 
the  priest  of  the  tribe  cried  in  a  loud  voice — 

"  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord !" 

And  all  the  people  answered — 

"  We  praise  His  Holy  name !" 

Then  there  rose  a  Judge,  and  he  said,  stretching 
forth  his  arms  to  the  people — 

"  Men  of  Israel,  of  the  house  of  Zoar,  if  a  maid  is 
betrothed  unto  one  man  and  another  man  take  her, 
what  shall  be  their  punishment?  What  saith  the 
Law?" 

And,  as  with  one  voice,  the  people  answered — 

"  Death !" 

And  Johanan,  who  stood  over  against  the  steps  of 
the  Judgment  Seat,  whispered — 

"  Death !" 

"Shall  they  not  be  stoned  with  stones  until  they 
die  ?"  cried  the  Judge. 

And  the  people  answered — 

"  They  shall  be  stoned  with  stones  until  they  die." 

Then  the  Judge,  turning  to  Jediah,  said  unto  him — 

307 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"  Speak  them,  Jediah.  Testify  thou  against  this  man 
and  against  this  maiden." 

The  blind  man  drew  a  little  closer  to  the  steps  of 
the  Judgment  Seat,  and  all  the  muscles  of  his  body 
were  as  if  turned  to  iron,  and  all  the  blood  that  ran  in 
his  veins  was  like  fire  that  is  hot  in  the  furnace. 

Jediah  rose  up  in  his  place,  and  as  the  people  gazed 
upon  him,  a  hoarse  murmur  broke  from  them.  For  in 
the  sun  that  blazed  down  upon  his  head,  he  looked 
gaunt  and  haggard  and  terrible  as  a  spectre.  The 
aspect  of  humanity,  that  is  made  in  the  image  of 
God,  had  almost  left  him.  His  streaming  hair  was 
wellnigh  like  unto  the  mane  of  some  animal  of  the 
forest.  His  eyes  were  as  the  eyes  of  a  beast  when  it 
croucheth  to  spring  upon  its  prey.  His  hands  clinched 
and  unclinched  themselves.  He  gnashed  his  teeth  in 
his  beard.  And  the  flames  of  an  undying  hatred 
seemed  to  emanate  from  him  as,  after  a  moment  of 
silence,  he  said — 

"  I,  Jediah,  the  eldest  born  of  my  father's  house,  a 
Judge  in  Israel,  do  swear  that  I  was  betrothed  unto 
this  maiden  Elna  by  my  father  Zoar.  Answer,  oh  my 
father,  did'st  thou  not  give  this  woman  unto  me  for 
wife?" 

Then  Zoar  bowed  his  head  and  answered — 

"I  did,  my  son." 

Then  Jediah  said  unto  Elna — 

"Answer  thou,  woman, — wert  thou  not  betrothed 
unto  me  by  my  father  Zoar  ?" 

And  Elna,  lifting  up  her  face  proudly  towards  the 
Judges,  said — 

308 


THE  DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

"Thy  father  Zoar  did  indeed  give  me  unto  thee. 
Yet  was  I  but  a  child  and  knew  not  love,  and  knew 
not  what  I  did." 

Then  Jediah  said  unto  Lemuel — 

"  Answer  thou,  O  Lemuel,  that  art  my  brother,  son 
of  my  father  and  of  his  lawful  wife,  Naomi.  Did'st 
thou  not  know  that  this  woman  was  betrothed  unto 
me?" 

And  Lemuel  said — 

"  I  did  know  it." 

"  And,  knowing  it,  thou  did'st  steal  her  from  me  and 
did'st  carry  her  with  thee  to  Babylon  ?" 

"  No,"  cried  Lemuel.  "  As  my  soul  liveth,  she  went 
not  forth  with  me  to  Babylon,  nor  knew  I  aught  of 
her  going  thither." 

«  Thou  liest !"  cried  Jediah  fiercely.     "  Thou  liest !" 

"  I  do  not  lie,"  returned  Lemuel  proudly.  "  I  speak 
the  truth.  No  such  plot  was  thought  of  by  me,  nor 
knew' I  aught  of  this  maid's  presence  in  Babylon  until 
I  found  her  in  the  palace  gardens  of  Ishtar,  claimed 
by  our  over-lord,  Alorus,  as  his  slave." 

Even  as  he  spake,  and  his  words  rang  out  clearly  to 
all  the  people,  who  listened  as  if  under  a  spell,  the 
caravan  that  was  travelling  from  Babylon  turned  from 
the  highway,  coming  towards  the  Judgment  Seat. 
The  camels  were  stopped,  and  a  woman,  closely  veiled, 
and  attended  by  two  men,  dismounted  from  them,  and 
came  forward  into  the  midst  of  the  press  of  the 
people.  No  one  heeded  them,  for  all  eyes  were  turned 
to  the  Judgment  Seat,  all  lent  ear  to  the  words  of 
Lemuel. 

309 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

When  Lemuel  had  ceased  from  speaking,  the  Judge 
said — 

"  Who  can  prove  that  these  words  are  true  ?" 

Then  Elna  called  upon  her  soul  and  upon  all  her 
courage,  and  lifted  up  her  voice  and  said — 

"  That  can  I.  For  I  went  up  to  Babylon  unknown 
to  Lemuel  or  to  any  man.  He  had  conjured  me  by  all 
we  both  held  sacred  to  help  him  to  be  loyal  to  that 
man,  his  brother,  who  now  seeketh  to  slay  him.  Un- 
asked of  him,  I  did  confess  my  love  for  him,  as  here, 
before  my  Judges  and  my  people,  I,  without  shame, 
confess  it  still.  In  all  else  I  am,  as  he  is,  innocent. 
If  love,  the  strongest,  purest,  noblest  love  of  which 
man  is  capable,  be  a  crime,  then  is  he  guilty,  but  in 
naught  else.  He  is  true  to  his  brother,  to  his  nation, 
and  to  his  God." 

As  she  finished  speaking  there  was  a  murmur  of 
sympathy  from  the  crowd,  and  Naomi  clasped  her 
hands  together,  while  the  tears  rained  down  her  face. 
It  seemed  unto  her  eager  mother's  heart  that  the 
answer  of  Elna  must  at  once  and  for  ever  convince  the 
Judges  and  the  people  of  the  innocence  of  her  son. 
Already  she  saw  him  acquitted,  set  free,  in  her  arms 
once  more.  But  Jediah  spoke  fiercely  in  answer  to 
the  words  of  Elna. 

"  The  evidence  of  his  paramour  doth  not  suffice,"  he 
exclaimed,  with  bitter  sarcasm.  "How  should  she, 
who  hath  betrayed  all  for  him,  not  say  that  he  is 
innocent  ?  Her  evidence  is  nothing  worth.  Who  else, 
woman,  can  prove  that  thou  did'st  not  go  forth  with 
him?" 

310 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Who  else  ?"  murmured  Elna,  casting  her  eyes 
around  upon  all  the  eager,  watching  faces. 

"  Ay,"  cried  Jediah.  "  There  is  no  man — there  is  no 
man!" 

"  There  is  one  man,"  cried  a  voice  in  the  crowd. 
"  The  Lord  Alorus.  Who  will  gainsay  his  word  ?" 

All  the  people  turned,  as  with  one  accord,  in  the 
direction  of  the  voice,  and  Alorus,  dusty,  travel-stained, 
and  weary,  but  bearing  himself,  as  ever,  with  a  certain 
dandified  gallantry  and  arrogance  of  demeanour,  came 
forward  to  the  foot  of  the  Judgment  Seat  and  stood 
looking  upwards  towards  the  fierce  white  face  of 
Jediah. 

"  The  Lord  Alorus  !"  cried  the  people. 

Sabaal,  who  was  among  the  crowd,  made  a  move- 
ment as  if  he  would  fain  slink  out  of  sight  of  the 
master  from  whom  he  had  escaped.  But  Alorus  had 
already  seen  him,  and  he  now  motioned  to  him  to 
stay. 

"  What  dost  thou  here  ?"  muttered  Jediah  uneasily, 
casting  his  eyes  hither  and  thither  as  if  he  feared 
some  other  presence. 

"  What  do  I  here  ?"  said  Alorus.  "  I  do  stand  here 
to  say  that,  so  far,  the  shepherd  Lemuel  hath  spoken 
the  truth.  'Twas  I  found  this  maid,  who  had  fainted 
and  lay  as  one  dead  in  a  street  of  Babylon.  When 
Lemuel  went  forth  with  me  from  the  tents  of  Zoar  the 
maid  was  not  with  him." 

The  face  of  Naomi  brightened,  and  she  dried  her 
tears. 

"God   speaketh  even   out  of   the    mouths  of  the 

3" 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

heathen,"    she   murmured.      "He    speaketh    for    my 
son." 

But  Jediah's  fury  and  determination  for  revenge 
were  only  increased  by  this  unexpected  opposition. 
His  eyes  glared  wildly,  but  it  was  evident  that  he  was 
making  a  mighty  effort  to  retain  his  self-control  as  he 
said — 

"Thou  did'st  claim  her  as  thy  slave,  and  in  thine 
own  house,  O  Lord  Alorus,  I  did  find  her  with  this 
man.  Is  not  that  the  truth  ?" 

"  That  is  the  truth,"  said  Alorus,  with  obvious  re- 
luctance. 

"And  even  then,"  interposed  Lemuel  calmly,  "in 
thy  presence,  oh  my  brother,  were  we  both  arrested — I 
and  this  maiden — by  the  order  of  the  king,  in  that  we 
did  plot  for  the  liberty  of  the  men  of  Israel  held  cap- 
tive in  Babylon." 

At  these  words  there  were  again  great  murmurs 
among  the  people,  and  a  voice  cried  out — 

"  Shall  we  then  kill  with  stones  the  man  who  would 
free  us  from  captivity  ?" 

"  Thou  utterest  treason !"  cried  Alorus,  turning  in 
the  direction  of  the  voice. 

"  We  will  do  justice  on  every  man,"  said  the  aged 
Zoar  proudly,  "  be  he  who  he  may." 

"  Brother,"  cried  Lemuel,  "  have  I  not  spoken  that 
which  is  true  ?  Answer  thou,  my  brother." 

"  That  is  true,"  said  Jediah. 

"  True,  also,  that  I  was  sold,"  continued  Lemuel, 
with  passionate  earnestness,  "  and  with  me  this  maid 
into  bondage." 

312 


THE  DAUGHTERS  OF   BABYLON 

"  That  also  is  true,"  said  Jediah,  harshly. 

"  And  that  the  brethren  who  had  wrought  with  me 
in  secret  for  their  freedom  did  rise  and  put  to  the 
sword  the  guards,  and  did  release  me  from  the  rostrum, 
and  with  me  this  maid.  And  then" — he  turned 
proudly  towards  Sabaal — "  then  was  I  taken  captive 
by  mine  own  people,  by  thee,  O  Sabaal,  and  by  thy  fol- 
lowers, and  borne  away  out  of  the  city,  bound  and 
helpless — I,  who  should  have  fought  with  and  for 
those  brave  ones  who  were  ready  to  lay  down  their 
lives  for  my  sake." 

"  Stand  forth,  Sabaal,"  cried  Alorus,  "  and  acknowl- 
edge thy  treason  unto  me  and  unto  my  lord  the  king. 
Thou  did'st  help  to  stir  up  this  revolt  ?" 

Sabaal  threw  himself  upon  the  ground  at  the  feet  of 
Alorus. 

"It  is  true,"  he  cried. 

"And  why  did'st  thou  take  captive  thine  own 
leader  ?" 

"  Lest  he  should  be  destroyed,"  exclaimed  the  slave. 

"As  now  he  shall  be,  if  there  is  justice  in  the 
world,"  shouted  Jediah. 

"I  thank  thee,  oh  my  Lord  Alorus,"  said  Lemuel, 
"  and  thee,  Sabaal,  that  have  borne  witness  for  me  that 
I  do  speak  the  truth." 

Cries  broke  from  the  people  as  Alorus  turned  away 
from  the  Judgment  Seat.  The  Israelites  were  greatly 
excited  by  this  narration  of  the  events  that  had  been 
taking  place  in  Babylon.  But  Jediah's  intensity  of 
resolution  was  only  made  more  fierce  by  these  sounds 
and  by  the  evidences  of  favour  towards  Lemuel.  Kais- 

313 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

ing  bis  voice  into  a  hoarse  shout,  he  cried  out,  gesticu- 
lating wildly — 

"All  this  I  seek  not  to  deny — it  matters  not.  I 
have  here  two  witnesses" — a  hush  fell  upon  the  people, 
and  the  terror  dawned  again  in  the  face  of  Naomi — 
"  two  witnesses,  that  this  man  and  this  maid  were  to- 
gether guiltily  in  Babylon.  Thou  did'st  see  them," — 
he  put  forth  his  hand  to  Adoram, — "did'st  thou  not? 
Answer,  O  Adoram !" 

Then,  in  the  dead  silence,  Adoram  answered  and 
said — 

"  It  is  true.  I  swear  that  I  did  see  these  two — as 
Jediah  hath  affirmed — together  in  Babylon." 

"  Answer  thou,  Jozadah,"  vociferated  Jediah. 

And  Jozadah  answered  in  a  loud  voice — 

"  I  swear  that  I  did  see  these  two  together  in 
Babylon  as  thou  hast  affirmed.  And  all  the  city  knew 
it." 

These  words  evidently  made  a  deep  impression  on 
the  Israelites,  who  guarded  the  chastity  of  their 
women  as  a  most  precious  jewel.  Murmurs  adverse 
to  Elna  and  Lemuel  now  came  from  many  lips,  and 
many  of  the  women  in  the  crowd  cast  looks  of  indig- 
nation upon  Elna.  Jediah  saw  that  the  tide  of  the 
feeling  of  the  people  was  already  turning  in  his  favour, 
and  he  cried  with  passionate  fervour — 

"  I  claim  justice  !  Hear  these  men — and  all  Babylon 
would  bear  them  witness !  I  maintain  that  this  man 
and  this  maid  are  guilty.  I  call  for  judgment  and  their 
death !" 

A  woman  shrieked  and  fell,   as  one   dead,  to  the 

3H 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF   BABYLON 

ground.  It  was  Naomi.  Tirzah  lifted  her  up  tenderly. 
But  Jediah  took  no  heed. 

"  Grant  me  justice,  O  Judges  !"  he  cried.  "  Let  these 
two  who  have  betrayed  my  honour  and  broken  Israel's 
law  be  stoned  with  stones  until  they  die." 

Then  the  Judge  who  had  first  spoken  stood  up  in  his 
place,  and  his  countenance  was  very  stern.  And  he 
said  in  a  loud  voice — 

"  By  the  law  given  unto  us  by  our  fathers  hast  thou 
been  tried,  O  Lemuel  and  Elna.  What  is  the  judg- 
ment, oh  ye  Judges  ?" 

And  the  Judges  answered  and  said — 

"  They  are  guilty  both." 

"  And  their  punishment  ?"  said  the  Judge. 

"Death,"  answered  the  Judges.  "They  shall  be 
stoned  with  stones  until  they  die." 

Then  the  Judge  turned  to  the  people  and  said — 

"Men  of  Israel,  ye  have  heard  the  sentence  of 
Israel's  Judges.  Take  these  two,  and,  as  the  Law 
decrees,  even  so  do  ye  unto  them." 

As  he  finished  speaking,  the  crowd  surged  forward 
around  Lemuel  and  Elna,  stretching  forth  their  hands 
to  seize  and  bind  them.  But  Elna,  struggling  vio- 
lently, cried — 

"  Men  of  Israel,  kill  me  if  ye  will,  in  that  I  did  do 
wickedly  in  putting  on  man's  attire  and  thus  going  up 
alone  to  Babylon.  But  spare  Lemuel.  Spare— spare 
him !  For  he  is  innocent.  Nay — nay — this  is  murder !" 

On  the  last  words  her  voice  rose  in  a  piercing  cry 
that  was  like  a  wail.  And  Jediah,  answering  her, 
shouted  with  fiendish  exultation — 

315 


THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

"  Death  to  them  both  !     Death— death !" 

As  the  crowd  surged  forward,  Johanan,  the  blind 
man,  had  been  caught  in  the  press  of  it,  and  swept 
away  some  feet  from  the  Judgment  Seat.  He  strug- 
gled furiously  to  regain  it  as  he  heard  the  shout  of 
Jediah,  but  for  a  moment  his  effort  was  in  vain.  A 
tremendous  uproar  broke  from  hundreds  of  voices,  the 
cruel  cry  of  "  Death !  Death  !"  For  the  Israelites  had 
stern  hearts,  and  unto  them  the  words  of  their  Judges 
were  as  the  words  of  God  Himself.  For  the  sinful 
woman,  for  the  man  who  had  led  her  into  sin,  they  had 
no  mercy.  Guilt  such  as  that  attributed  unto  Lemuel 
and  unto  Elna  was  altogether  abominable  to  them. 
Such  guilt  must  be  wiped  out  as  a  stain  of  blood  is 
wiped  out,  or  all  the  tribe  would  partake  in  the  wick- 
edness, and  the  wrath  of  God  would  surely  come  upon 
them.  So  now  they  took  no  heed  of  the  wild  cry  of 
Elna.  They  took  no  heed  of  the  patriotism  of  Lem- 
uel. They  thought  no  more  of  their  own  salvation 
from  bondage,  wrought  for  by  him.  They  thought 
only  of  the  punishment  by  their  law  decreed.  And 
they  bound  the  hands  of  Lemuel  and  the  hands  of 
Elna  behind  their  backs,  crying — 

"  Death— death— death  !" 

Jediah  stood  above  upon  the  Judgment  Seat,  and 
his  white  face  was  as  the  face  of  a  devil  exulting  over 
the  terror  of  a  lost  world.  The  crowd  seized  Lemuel 
and  Elna  to  bear  them  forth  unto  the  Place  of  Stones. 
Women  shrieked  aloud,  and  the  roar  of  this  human 
ocean  echoed  up  under  the  glaring  sunshine  along  the 
vastness  of  the  plain.  Then  Jediah,  leaning  down, 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

caught  up  the  first  stone  and,  with  a  cry  of  triumph, 
flung  it  at  Lemuel.  It  struck  him  on  the  side  of  the 
face,  and  the  blood  gushed  out.  Jediah  fell  back  upon 
the  seat  of  the  Judges,  laughing  triumphantly,  and 
muttering  over  and  over,  like  a  madman  repeating 
ever  the  one  word  that  possesses  him,  "  Death — death 
—death !" 

But  suddenly  he  caught  the  seat  with  his  hands. 
His  eyes  stared.  His  voice  died,  strangled  in  his 
throat.  For  on  high,  above  all  the  tumult,  there  rang 
out  the  imperious  voice  of  a  woman. 

"  Hold !"  it  cried.     "  Hold,  men  of  Israel !" 

And  a  woman's  form,  veiled,  stood  by  the  Judgment 
Seat. 

The  people,  startled  by  this  cry,  which  was  thrilling 
in  its  passionate  intensity,  were  silent  and  motionless. 
The  Judges  stood  up  upon  their  seats,  and  Naomi  leaned 
forward  in  the  arms  of  Tirzah. 

"  Hold !"  cried  the  woman.  "  These  twain  are 
innocent !" 

The  crowd  surged  back,  and  Elna  was  seen  upon  her 
knees,  resting  her  head  against  Lemuel,  who  stretched 
arms  of  protection  above  her  to  shield  her  from  death. 

"  What  would' st  thou,  woman  ?"  exclaimed  the 
Judge  who  had  called  for  death. 

"  I  would  stay  this  judgment !"  cried  the  woman* 

"  There  is  no  power,"  shrieked  Jediah,  "  no  power  to 
set  aside  the  sentence  passed  by  Israel's  Judges." 

"  There  is  a  power  above  Israel's  Judges,"  said  the 
woman.  "A  power  to  whom  ye  render  tribute.  He 
who  reigneth  in  Babylon,  my  lord  the  king." 

317 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

She  held  forth  her  hand.  In  it  was  a  cylinder, 
stamped  with  the  signet  of  the  king. 

"  Here  is  his  mandate  and  the  signet,"  she  cried. 
"  It  is  the  will  of  the  king  of  Babylon  that  these  two 
are  to  be  set  free,  and  that  no  harm  or  evil  shall  be 
done  upon  them." 

Cries  broke  from  the  people,  but  the  Judge  said 
sternly — 

"  Who  answereth  for  this  woman  that  she  speaketh 
indeed  the  truth  ?" 

Then  Alorus  cried — 

"  I  do.  I,  Alorus,  thy  over-lord  and  the  servant  of 
the  king." 

Then  Jediah,  beside  himself  with  fury,  and  trem- 
bling like  an  old  man,  tottered  down  the  steps  of  the 
Judgment  Seat  towards  the  woman  who  stood  there, 
crying — 

"  I  will  not  accept  this  message,  nor  will  I  heed  this 
false  decree." 

But  the  woman  caught  his  hand,  and  hers  was  like 
iron.  And  she  said  in  his  ear — 

"  Thou  shalt !  For  I  swear  to  thee,  if  thy  brother 
and  this  maid  die,  they  shall  not  die  alone.  They  are 
innocent  of  the  crime  of  which  thou — thou  and  I  are 
guilty.  If  they  are  stoned,  I — Elcia — falsely  called 
Ishtar,  who  was  the  wife  of  Johanan — at  thy  com- 
mand made  blind  by  this  man " 

"There  is  no  man "  stammered  Jediah,  pale  as 

ashes. 

But  he  looked,  and  lo!  Migdapul,  the  god-seller, 
stood  by  him.  Then  he  fell  back  against  the  great 

318 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

stone  of  the  Judgment  Seat,  and  he  heard  in  his  ears  a 
noise  like  the  buzzing  of  flies  in  a  dark  place. 

"  I  will  proclaim  myself  and  my  sin — and  thine — 
before  all  the  people,"  said  Elcia. 

"  Thou  wilt  not  dare  !"  he  muttered. 

"  I  have  sworn  it  by  the  God  of  our  fathers,"  she  an- 
swered. "  Call  upon  the  people.  Speak  as  I  command 
thee." 

And  she  lifted  up  her  voice  and  cried  aloud — 

"Hearken,  oh  ye  people!" 

Then  the  people  pressed  close  around  them,  and 
Naomi  broke  from  the  arms  of  Tirzah,  and  the  blind 
man,  Johanan,  drew  near  to  the  sound  of  her  voice. 

"  I  have  been  unjust,"  she  said,  speaking  unto  Jediah, 
"and,  in  mine  anger,  have  I  sought  the  life  of  my 
brother." 

And  he,  as  one  compelled  by  a  spirit  of  truth  and 
justice,  lifted  up  his  voice,  that  was  piercing  and 
shaken  by  the  gusts  of  passion,  and  said,  so  that  all 
could  hear — 

"  I  have  been  unjust,  and,  in  mine  anger,  have  I 
sought  the  life  of  my  brother." 

Then  she  said — 

"  I  do  here  recall  mine  accusation " 

And  he  answered — 

"  I  do  here  recall  mine  accusation " 

"  And  do  plead  to  thee,  my  father  Zoar,  for  these  two 
— that  thou  wilt  give  this  innocent  maiden  Blna  unto 
my  brother  Lemuel,  to  be  his  wife." 

But  Jediah,  on  hearing  these  last  words,  shrieked 
out,  like  a  man  demented — 

319 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF  BABYLON 

"  No,  no !     I  will  not  say  it — I  will  not !" 

"  I  say  thou  shalt ! '  cried  Elcia. 

"  I  will  not !"  he  reiterated  frantically.  "  I  will  not ! 
Death  shall  possess  her,  but  Lemuel  never !" 

And,  drawing  from  his  breast  a  knife  that  gleamed 
in  the  sunshine,  he  sprang  towards  Elna,  who  still 
kneeled  upon  the  ground,  fettered  and  helpless.  But 
Elcia,  quick  as  thought,  darted  between  Jediah  and 
Elna,  and,  as  Jediah  struck,  the  point  of  the  knife  en- 
tered her  breast  and  she  sank  down  to  the  ground. 
The  people,  who  had  stood  as  if  turned  to  stone  while 
Jediah  uttered  the  bitter  confession  of  his  sin,  now 
rushed  forward  to  seize  him,  clamouring  for  his  de- 
struction. But  ere  one  could  so  much  as  lay  a  hand 
upon  him,  the  blind  man,  Johanan,  leaped  up  where  he 
stood  and  caught  Jediah  by  the  throat,  crying — 

"  At  last !  At  last !  Eobber  of  my  wife — my  Elcia. 
At  last  I  find  thee,  oh  mine  enemy !" 

"  Johanan !"  gasped  out  Jediah. 

"  Ay,"  said  the  blind  man.  "  Johanan — whom  thou 
madest  blind.  Die,  accursed  one,  die !" 

And,  on  the  last  word,  he  pressed  his  hands  upon  the 
throat  of  Jediah,  strangled  him,  cast  his  body  upon 
the  ground  at  the  very  foot  of  the  Judgment  Seat  that 
he  would  have  polluted,  and,  with  a  cry  as  of  a  man 
who  yields  up  his  soul  in  triumph,  fell  dead  upon  it,  as 
though  to  keep  it  his  for  ever. 

Then  a  great  awe  fell  upon  the  people.  For  Jediah 
had  been  their  lord.  And  they  gathered  about  his 
dead  body  and  lifted  it  in  their  arms  to  carry  it  to  the 
tent  of  his  father. 

320 


THE   DAUGHTERS  OF   BABYLON 

But  Lemuel  and  Elna  they  released,  and  Naomi  fell, 
weeping,  upon  the  breast  of  her  son. 

The  Lord  Alorus  had  supported  Elcia  and  striven  to 
bind  up  the  wound  in  her  breast.  Elna,  leaning  over 
her,  whispered — 

"And  thou — art  thou  hurt?" 

"  But  a  little,"  Elcia  answered. 

"  And  thou,"  said  Elna,  "  who  hast  saved  us — who 
art  thou  ?" 

Then  Elcia  drew  back  her  veil  and  looked  into  the 
eyes  of  Elna. 

"  Ishtar !"  exclaimed  Elna. 

"Not  Ishtar,"  answered  Elcia,  "but  one  more 
wretched — Elcia." 

"  Elcia !"  said  Elna.     "  Thou  art  Elcia !" 

She  bent  down  over  Elcia  and  kissed  her  on  the  lips, 
and  whispered — 

"  Sister !" 

A  great  light  came  upon  the  face  of  Elcia,  and  she 
lifted  herself  up,  saying  proudly — 

"  Sister!     That  word  repays  me  all." 

Then  she  sank  back  in  the  arms  of  Alorus,  and 
seemed  for  a  moment  as  one  dead.  The  heavy  lids 
dropped  over  her  great  dark  eyes.  The  colour  fled 
from  her  cheek,  and  between  her  white  lips  the  strug- 
gling breath  came  in  gasps. 

"  She  is  dying,"  whispered  Elna.  "  Lemuel,  she  is 
dying." 

Elcia  heard  the  words  and  opened  her  eyes.  Already 
there  was  a  strange  and  unearthly  look  in  them,  as  if 
they  beheld  far-away  visions,  the  faint  and  shadowy 
21  32I 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

figures  of  some  other  world.  She  moved,  and  stretch- 
ing forth  her  hand,  laid  it  upon  Lemuel's,  as  he  leaned 
over  her. 

"Is  it  true?"  she  murmured.  "Am  I  indeed — 
dying?" 

"  Nay,"  he  answered.  "  Nay,  sister,  that  cannot  be. 
I  will  fetch  water." 

He  moved  as  if  to  hasten  away.  But  she  softly 
restrained  him. 

"  Do  not  leave  me — now,"  she  said.  "  Stay — it  will 
not  be  for  long." 

And  she  strove  to  come  a  little  nearer  to  him. 
Lemuel  made  a  sign  to  Alorus,  and  the  Babylonian, 
with  infinite  care,  loosed  his  arms  from  about  Elcia 
and  let  her  rest  instead  in  the  arms  of  Lemuel.  This 
seemed  to  content  her  greatly,  for  a  smile  that  was 
almost  joyous  hovered  on  her  trembling  lips,  and  she 
sighed — as  a  child  sighs  when  it  is  given  to  its  mother. 
She  lay  still  for  a  moment.  Then,  suddenly  lifting 
herself  up  in  Lemuel's  arms,  she  looked  forth  over  the 
plain,  staring  in  the  direction  in  which — very  far  off — 
lay  Bablyon. 

"I  see — the  city,"  she  said  in  a  thrilling  voice. 
"There — there — but — but — the  gods — they  are  fallen 
in  the  temples — the  palaces — are  desolate — and  in  the 
chambers — serpents — serpents  are  sleeping." 

"It  is  a  vision,"  whispered  Lemuel  unto  Elna. 
"The  dying  can  behold  the  future  and  that  which 
shall  be  done  in  the  years  as  yet  far  off." 

But  already  the  light  had  faded  from  the  eyes  of 
Elcia.  She  nestled  against  the  heart  of  Lemuel. 

322 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF   BABYLON 

"  Now  let  me  sleep,"  she  said  softly. 

With  a  last  effort  she  put  her  arms  about  his  neck, 
murmuring,  so  faintly  that  even  he  could  scarcely  hear 
the  words — 

"Let  me  sleep.  The  daughter  of  Babylon — is — 
avenged." 

Her  arms  drooped  down  and  fell.     She  sighed. 

"Surely  now  she  lies  in  the  arms  of  God,"  said 
Lemuel.  "  Of  our  God  and  hers.  For  He  forgiveth 
us  all  our  sins  and  remembereth  no  more  our  iniqui- 
ties." 

And,  bending  down,  he  kissed  the  lips  of  the  dead 
woman. 

Lemuel,  whose  heart — wholly  given  as  it  was  to 
Elna — beat  ever  in  sympathy  with  his  down-trodden 
people,  was  destined  to  live  unto  those  days  that  be- 
held the  passing  away  of  the  glory  of  the  Babylonish 
conquerors.  For,  in  the  seventeenth  year  of  Naboni- 
dos,  the  tribes  dwelling  around  the  Persian  Gulf  re- 
volted, stirred  by  the  incessant  intrigues  of  Cyrus. 
In  the  month  Tammuz,  Cyrus  himself  came  up  to  the 
town  of  Opis  and  defeated  the  Accad  army,  and  on 
the  sixteenth  day  of  the  same  month  the  Persians  en- 
tered Babylon  and  captured  the  city,  without  striking 
a  blow.  The  king  was  loaded  with  fetters  and  cast 
into  a  dungeon,  and  Kurdistan  warriors  guarded  the 
mighty  gates  of  the  Temple  of  Bel. 

And  in  the  cylinder  of  Cyrus  may  be  read  his  record, 
a  record  of  mercy  and  of  joy.  For  one  of  the  first 
acts  of  the  king  and  conqueror  was  to  restore  the 

323 


THE   DAUGHTERS   OF  BABYLON 

weary  exiles  of  Babylonia  unto  their  own  lands,  and 
to  give  them  freedom  after  slavery. 

So  came  the  Israelites,  and  with  them  Lemuel  and 
Elna,  at  last  unto  their  own  place  in  their  own  fair 
country.  And  there  they  rested  from  all  their  troubles, 
and  served  the  God  of  their  fathers  in  peace. 


THE   END 


324 


WILSON  BARRETT'S  GREAT  NOVEL 


The  Sign  of  the  Cross 

WITH  FRONTISPIECE  BY  B.  WEST  CLINEDINST 


I2mo.     Cloth,  extra,  £1.50. 


"  You  seem  to  me  to  have  rendered  a  great  service  to  the  best  and  holiest  of  all 
causes,— The  Cause  of  Faith."— RT.  HON.  W.  E.  GLADSTONE. 

"  Mr.  Barrett  has  succeeded  admirably  in  placing  a  strong  and  intense  story 
before  the  reading  public." — Cincinnati  Commercial  Tribune. 

"  Mr.  Barrett  has  treated  his  subject  with  reverence  and  dignity.  The  brutal, 
licentious  Nero  and  his  ribald  drunken  satellites  make  an  admirable  foil  to  the 
spiritual  Mercia  and  the  other  followers  of  Christ ;  and  throughout  the  book  the 
nobility,  the  simple  faith,  and  the  steadfastness  of  these  last  are  dominating  notes. 
No  more  impressive  lesson  of  the  power  of  the  doctrines  of  Christianity  has  been 
given  in  fiction  than  the  conversion  of  Marcus,  Nero's  Prefect,  through  the  example 
and  fearlessness  of  the  girl  Mercia." — Philadelphia  Evening  Bulletin. 

" '  The  Sign  of  the  Cross'  is  an  historical  story  of  the  first  Christian  century 
which  in  a  forcible  way  portrays  the  conflict  between  the  religion  of  the  Caesars  and 
that  of  Christ.  It  is  crowded  with  picturesque  personages,  some  of  them  historical, 
and  it  is  provided  with  moving  scenes  and  dramatic  situations.  The  triumph  of  the 
Cross  is  set  forth  in  a  manner  to  make  vivid  the  odds  it  overcame  and  the  force  of 
its  influence.  Mr.  Barrett,  in  making  fiction  out  of  drama,  shows  himself  to  posses: 
a  decided  literary  ability  (not  necessarily  to  be  found  in  the  writer  of  a  good  acting 
play),  and  he  tells  the  story  with  keen  instinct  for  its  dramatic  value.  The  result  is 
a  readable  and  impressive  novel  whose  action  is  swift  and  whose  interest  is  sustained 
throughout.  The  book  is  a  justification  of  the  experiment  of  turning  stage  litera- 
ture into  closet  reading."— Hartford  Courant. 


J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


By  Amelie  Rives. 

A  Damsel  Errant. 

l6mo.     Polished  buckram,  75  cents.     Issued  in  the  Lotos  Library. 

" '  A  Damsel  Errant"  deals  with  a  maiden  who  will  have  nothing  of  love,  pre- 
ferring a  joyous  liberty  to  a  husband.  The  hero  is  equally  indifferent  to  the  tender 
passion,  but  that  does  not  prevent  him  from  falling  in  love  with  the  maiden. 
Through  an  accident,  he  kills  the  girl's  father  in  a  duel,  and  is  condemned  to  die. 
How  he  is  rescued  is  told  in  the  story,  which  is  written  with  spirit  and  vigor,  with 
grace,  and  with  tenderness." — Boston  Gazette. 


Barbara  Dering. 

A  Sequel  to  "The  Quick  or  the  Dead?" 
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"  The  book  is  brilliantly  written  from  the  stand-point  of  a  young  woman  of 
observation,  experience,  feeling,  and  strong  convictions.  Her  characters  are  true 
to  life."— St.  Paul  Dispatch. 

The  Quick  or  the  Dead? 

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'"The  Quick  or  the  Dead?'"  says  the  New  York  Herald,  "has  made  a 
deeper  impression  on  our  American  literature  than  any  work  of  fiction  since 
•  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin.'  " 

The  Witness  of  the  Sun. 

I2mo.     Cloth,  $1.00. 

"  That  Miss  Rives  has  been  thought  worthy  of  recognition  at  the  hands  of 
critics  North  and  South  is  the  strongest  evidence  of  the  fact  she  has  done  something 
out  of  the  common,  and  we  will  preface  whatever  we  have  to  write  by  saying  that 
we  are  not  among  the  least  of  her  admirers." — Chicago  Times. 


J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


By  Julien  Gordon. 


"  Now  and  then,  to  prove  to  men— perhaps  also  to  prove  to 
themselves — what  they  can  do  if  they  dare  and  will,  one  of 
these  gifted  women  detaches  herself  from  her  sisters,  enters  the 
arena  with  men,  to  fight  for  the  highest  prizes,  and  as  the 
brave  Gotz  says  of  Brother  Martin,  'shames  many  a  knight.'1 
To  this  race  of  conquerers  belongs  to-day  one  of  the  first  living 
writers  of  novels  and  romances,  Julien  Gordon.'" 

FRIEDERICH  SPIELHAGEN. 


A  WEDDING,  and  Other  Stories. 
POPP^A. 

A  DIPLOMAT'S  DIARY. 

A  SUCCESSFUL  MAN. 

VAMPIRES,  AND  MADEMOISELLE   RESEDA. 

Two  stories  in  one  book. 
121110.     Cloth,  $1.00  per  volume. 


"  The  cleverness  and  lightness  which  characterized  '  A  Diplomat's  Diary'  are 
not  wanting  in  the  later  work  of  the  American  lady  who  writes  under  the  pseudo- 
nyme  of  Julien  Gordon.  In  her  former  story  the  dialogue  is  pointed  and  alert,  the 
characters  are  clear-cut  and  distinct,  and  the  descriptions  picturesque.  As  for  the 
main  idea  of  '  A  Successful  Man,'  the  intersection  of  two  wholly  different  strata  of 
American  life, — one  fast  and  fashionable,  the  other  domestic  and  decorous, — it  is 
worked  out  with  much  skill  and  alertness  of  treatment  to  its  inevitably  tragic 
issue." — New  York  World. 


}.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


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Barbara:  Lady's  Maid  and  Peeress. 

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until  the  reading  of  a  will  shows  that  she  is  the  real  heir  to  a  fortune  and  a  title. 
The  heroine  is  a  sensible  girl,  and  the  story  is  very  well  told." — San  Francisco 
Chronicle.  

Mrs.  Crichton's  Creditor. 

Illustrated.     l6mo.     Polished  buckram,  75  cents.     Issued  in  the 
Lotos  Library. 

"  Mrs.  Alexander's  novels  are  decidedly  of  the  higher  order.  They  reflect  the 
lires  and  sayings  of  wholesome  people,  carry  a  healthy  moral,  and  convey  valuable 
lessons  to  enlightened  readers." — St.  Louis  Globe-Democrat. 


A  Fight  with  Fate. 

I2mo.     Cloth,  $1.25. 

"  This  is  Mrs.  Alexander's  best  story,  and  readers  of  her  two  previous  novels, 
'  For  His  Sake'  and  '  Found  Wanting,'  will  at  once  recognize  this  as  high  praise. 
It  is  an  English  story.  The  plot  is  good,  is  skilfully  developed ;  the  dialogue  is 
bright,  the  situations,  many  of  them,  dramatic.  On  the  whole,  it  is  a  bright,  enter- 
taining novel,  and  one  of  the  best  of  the  season." — Boston  Adertiser. 


A  Golden  Autumn.     The  Cost  of  Her  Pride. 

izmo.     Cloth,  $1.25. 


Found  Wanting.  For  His  Sake. 

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J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


By  GEORGE   MORGAN. 

John  Littlejohn,  of  J. 

BEING  IN   PARTICULAR   AN 

ACCOUNT  OF  HIS   REMARKABLE    ENTANGLEMENT  WITH  THE   KING'S 
INTRIGUES   AGAINST   GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Z2mo.    Cloth  extra,  deckle  edges,  $1.25. 
Paper,  50  cents. 


"  George  Morgan's  style  is  strong  and  free,  intensely 
literal  and  vividly  poetic  by  turns,  and  he  has  prepared 
himself  thoroughly  by  knowing  the  scenes  and  studying 
the  historic  incidents  with  the  pains  necessary  for  a  good 
historic  novel.  '  John  Littlejohn,  of  J.,'  is  a  tale  of  Rev- 
olutionary times.  It  opens  at  Valley  Forge,  introducing 
amid  lesser-known  officers,  Americans  and  their  French 
and  German  allies,  Washington,  of  course,  and  Hamil- 
ton and  Conway,  the  cabalist,  the  noble  young  Lafayette, 
Baron  Steuben,  and  others  of  distinction.  Out-and-out 
adventure,  intrigues,  with  their  plot  and  counterplot,  the 
romance  of  maiden's  love,  smoothing  the  horrors  and 
compensating  for  the  dangers  and  discomforts  of  grim 
war,  are  here  well  mingled.  The  story  ends  at  the  battle 
of  Monmouth,  in  which  the  treachery  of  Lee,  and  Wash- 
ington's one  recorded  oath  when  he  denounced  and 
insulted  Lee  by  the  word  and  sign  'Poltroon,'  as  under- 
stood between  soldier  and  soldier,  and  by  his  superb 
presence  turned  defeat  into  victory,  are  told  with  spirit." 
— Boston  Evening  Transcript. 


"  'John  Littlejohn,  of  J.,'  is  a  story  full  of  originality,  of  vitality,  action,  and 
charming  bits  of  descriptive  writing ;  an  earnest,  able,  and  highly  interesting  picture 
of  the  American  Revolution ;  a  romance  which  must  always  find  an  honored  place 
among  the  comparatively  few  novels  having  a  background  of  American  history. 
.  .  .  The  style  is  a  wonder  of  crispness  and  of  a  kind  of  Shakespearian  happiness. 
The  spirit  is  remarkable,  as  is  also  the  fidelity  to  the  times,  to  place,  and  to  char- 
acter."— Philadelphia  Inquirer. 

}.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


By  Rachel  Penn. 

[Mrs.  E.  S.  Willard.] 


A  Son  of  Israel. 

121110.     Cloth,  $1.25. 

"  The  picture  of  the  Russian  ghetto  impresses  us,  like  Zangwill's  own  sketches, 
with  its  seemingly  truthful  realism.  And  delightful  creations,  truly,  are  the  little 
dark-eyed  dancer,  Salome,  and  her  family,  and  the  ancient  La  Meldola.  The 
interior  of  Michael's  household  gives  us  an  excellent  view  of  Russian  family  life. 
In  fact,  exceptional  praise  is  due  the  author,  who  is  said  to  be  the  wife  of  Edwin 
S.  Willard,  the  actor.  '—The  Philadelphia  Record. 

"  Rachel  Penn  need  have  no  fears  about  allowing  her  work  to  stand  upon  its 
merits.  'A  Son  of  Israel'  is  a  powerful  and  fascinating  contribution  to  current 
fiction  having  a  deep  religious  coloring,  of  which  '  Quo  Vadis'  and  '  Fabius  the 
Roman'  are  notable  examples  The  scene  of  the  story  is  laid  in  Russia,  and  its 
predominating  theme  is  the  bitter  hostility  of  the  Russian  nobility  toward  the  much 
despised  Jew.  David  Rheba,  a  skilled  silversmith,  is  the  central  figure,  and  his 
strong  yet  pure  and  simple  Christian  character  is  drawn  with  wonderful  clearness." 
—  The  Minneapolis  Tribune. 

"  '  A  Son  of  Israel ;  an  Original  Story,'  by  Rachel  Penn,  has  a  dangerous 
title,  for  original  stories  were  never  common,  and  are  now  scarcer  than  ever,  but 
the  characterization  is  justified  by  the  contents.  It  is  as  odd  a  tale  as  will  often 
be  seen." — Springfield  Republican. 

"  It  is  an  open  secret  that  Rachel  Penn,  whose  first  serious  venture  in  fiction, 
'  A  Son  of  Israel,'  is  in  reality  the  wife  of  Mr.  E.  S.  Willard,  the  well-known  Eng- 
lish actor.  Mrs.  Willard  was  formerly  an  actress,  and,  like  her  husband,  began 
her  career  under  the  auspices  of  the  late  E.  A.  Sothern,  of  Lord  Dundreary  fame. 
After  playing  opposite  roles  for  several  seasons,  the  two  were  married,  Mrs.  Willard 
retiring  soon  afterwards  from  the  stage.  As  she  has  no  children  to  occupy  her 
thoughts,  and  lacks  the  physique  to  endure  the  strain  of  accompanying  her  husband 
on  his  lengthy  tours  in  the  United  States  and  elsewhere,  Mrs.  Willard  has  for  several 
years  devoted  much  time  to  literary  work." — New  York  Commercial  Advertiser. 

"  Fine  dramatic  qualities  mark  '  A  Son  of  Israel,*  which  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at  when  we  learn  that  the  supposed  author  is  Mrs.  E.  S.  Willard,  wife  of  the  actor, 
using  the  pseudonym  Rachel  Penn.  The  writer  has  abandoned  the  commonplace 
in  devising  a  plot,  and  shows  literary  skill  as  well  as  spirit  and  vivacity  in  the  nar- 
ration."— Philadelphia  Press. 

"  The  story  fairly  bristles  with  melodrama,  and  contains  incident  enough  for 
any  three  ordinary  books,  while  a  complete  list  of  the  dramatis  persontc,  which 
range  all  the  way  from  an  ex-ballet  dancer  to  a  buyer  for  an  English  firm  of 
dealers  in  curios,  and  from  serfs  to  the  Czarowitz  himself,  would  tax  the  limits 
of  the  longest  handbill." — New  York  Commercial  Advertiser. 

"'A  Son  of  Israel'  is  a  timely  book.  Of  peculiar  interest  now,  the  book 
will  be  read,  appreciated,  and  condemned.  It  is  a  novel  of  feeling,  a  novel  bulk 
out  of  the  suffering  sympathy  of  a  woman's  heart  for  the  oppressed  of  her  people 
and  of  her  God." — Chattanooga  Times. 


J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


By  Elizabeth  Phipps  Train, 

Issued  in  the  Lotos  Library.    Illustrated. 
i6mo.    Polished  buckram,  75  cents  per  vol. 


The  Autobiography  of  a  Professional  Beauty. 

"  It  is  an  interesting  confession,  admirably  written,  and  the  story  throughout 
is  delightfully  fresh  and  vivacious." — Philadelphia  Evening  Bulletin. 

"  The  author  gives  in  this  handsome  little  book  a  charming  glimpse  of  ultra- 
fashionable  English  society.  It  has  an  air  of  truth  which  makes  its  moral  the  more 
impressive,  and  the  characters  are  well  drawn." — Columbus  Evening  Dispatch. 


A  Social  Highwayman. 

"  There  is  a  consistency  of  bold  purpose  in  the  book  which  makes  it  the  reverse 
of  mawkish.  It  is  a  kind  of  modernized  Dick  Turpin." — Chicago  Times-Herald. 

"  '  A  Social  Highwayman,'  a  small  and  dainty  volume  in  Lippincott's  Lotos 
Library,  is  a  distinctly  interesting,  almost  a  fascinating,  story." — Brooklyn  Daily 
Eagle.  

A  Marital  Liability. 

"  From  outset  to  finish  the  story  is  a  thoroughly  dramatic  one,  and  the  por- 
trayal of  the  vindication  and  reward  of  the  long-suffering  is  highly  gratifying." — 
Boston  Courier. 

A  Queen  of  Hearts. 

I2mo.     Cloth,  deckle  edges,  $1.25. 

The  strongest  and  most  intensely  interesting  novel  written  by  Miss  Train  since 
the  appearance  of  "  A  Social  Highwayman." 

"  If  Elizabeth  Phipps  Train  had  written  no  other  story  than  this,  she  has  cer- 
tainly herein  struck  the  key-note  to  that  sort  of  literature  that  invariably  arrests 
and  holds  the  public  attention  wherever  its  name  is  mentioned." — Boston  Courier. 

Madam  of  the  Ivies. 

I2mo.     Buckram,  ornamental,  $1.25. 


J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


By  A.  Conan  Doyle. 


A  Desert  Drama. 

BEING  THE  TRAGEDY  OF  THE  KOROSKO.    With  thirty-two  full-page 
illustrations.     121110.     Cloth,  ornamental,  $1.50. 

"  The  author  has  a  splendid  chance  to  use  his  descriptive  powers  and  splendid 
material  to  draw  contrasts  in  nationalities  and  to  compare  civilization  with  bar- 
barity. This  he  has  done  very  successfully,  and  the  'Desert  Drama'  forms  an 
interesting  narrative.  Besides  his  splendid  description  of  the  desert  and  his  por- 
traiture of  the  cruel  Dervishes  and  their  fierce  religious  zeal,  the  author  has  given 
each  of  his  characters  a  distinctiveness  which  is  marked  out  very  cleverly." — 
Philadelphia  Evening  Telegraph. 

"  Full  of  excitement  and  passing  from  one  crisis  to  another  with  true  dramatic 
force.  The  author  has  been  inexorable,  too,  for  a  novelist  of  his  usually  amiable 
predilections.  He  started  out  to  tell  a  tragic  tale,  and  he  adheres  to  his  purpose, 
two  of  his  travellers  losing  their  lives  in  the  bitter  misfortune  befalling  the  party 
that  comes  up  the  Nile  through  Nubia  so  gayly  and  so  fearlessly.  The  happiness 
of  the  people  on  the  Korosko  is  turned  to  woe  of  the  most  terrifying  description, 
just  how  we  leave  the  reader  to  find  out  for  himself,  only  noting  that  Dr.  Doyle 
has  struck  out  on  a  line  comparatively  new  for  him  in  this  book,  and  that  he  has 
treated  it  with  no  diminution  of  his  skill  as  a  narrator.  The  book  is  readable  from 
beginning  to  end." — New  York  Tribune. 

"With  the  opening  paragraph,  the  reader's  interest  is  awakened,  to  remain 
and  to  gain  in  attentiveness  with  the  progress  and  development  of  the  plot  to  the 
final  chapter.  A  novel  in  which  the  imagination  of  its  author  is  observed  to 
broaden  out  and  to  search  for  incident  beyond  ordinary  fields  of  discovery,  and 
yet  to  adorn  the  narrative  it  weaves  with  a  staying  interest  that  is  both  living  and 
timely — such  a  novel  possesses  not  a  little  of  the  spirit  of  the  busy,  purposeful 
days  in  which  we  live,  and  contains  virility  enough  and  striking  motif,  sufficient  to 
render  it  at  once  and  lastingly  popular.  Those  qualities  Dr.  Doyle's  latest  novel 
has  in  a  telling  degree.  It  is  thoroughly  a  novel  of  to-day,  full  of  interest,  spirited, 
thrilling,  and  bright  with  the  most  vivid  of  pictures  for  the  surpassing  pleasure 
both  of  the  traveler  and  the  stay-at-home.  The  author  has  evidently  visited  the 
places  of  which  he  so  fluently  and  pleasurably  writes,  and  has  been  a  participator 
in  some  stirring  desert  scenes,  or  he  surely  could  not  have  written  so  acceptably 
of  them  as  he  does  in  the  present  tale." — Boston  Courier. 


J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


CHARLES      LAMB     Comprising  newly  discovered 

letters  of  Charles  Lamb,  Cole- 

AND    THE    LLOYDS,     ndge,  the  Lloyds,  etc.    Edited 

by  E.  V.  LUCAS.    With  por- 
traits.    i2mo.     Cloth,  gilt  top,  deckle  edges,  $2.00. 


A  literary  event  of  the  greatest  magnitude,  and  which 
renders  incomplete  any  existing  edition  of  his  works, 
is  the  publication  of  these  letters.  The  following  table 
of  contents  will,  upon  examination,  verify  the  assertion 
of  the  importance  and  supreme  interest  of  the  volume  : 
— Introductory  :  the  story  of  the  letters  and  the  Lloyds. 
Charles  and  Robert  :  their  characters,  boyhood,  youth, 
correspondence,  ending  with  Charles's  domesticities 
with  Coleridge  in  1796.  Charles  at  Bristol  and  Nether 
Stowey — Coleridge,  Lamb,  and  Lloyd :  their  joint 
volume  of  poems— Charles  and  Coleridge  part — 1796- 
1798.  Charles  and  Lamb— Robert  and  Lamb — The 
earlier  letters  down  to  meeting  with  Manning — 1797- 
1800.  Robert  Lloyd's  marriage — Lamb's  letters  on  the 
subject — Robert's  business — 1801-1807.  Letters  from 
Lamb,  etc. — 1807.  Robert  Lloyd's  visit  to  London, 
and  letters — 1809.  Robert  Lloyd's  death— Lamb's 
obituary  notice — Family  letters — Robert's  children — 
1811.  The  elder  Lloyd's  later  correspondence  and 
poems  to  his  grandchildren — 1812-1828. 


"  The  contribution  of  Mr.  Lucas  to  Lamb  bibliography  is  the  result  of  a 
1  find,"  in  1894,  of  two  masses  of  correspondence  relating  to  the  Lloyds,  and 
including  twenty-three  new  letters  of  Lamb's,  three  new  letters  of  Coleridge's, 
and  other  matter  relating  to  the  coterie  so  dear  to  book-lovers  that  every 
least  detail  about  them  is  of  consummate  interest.  .  .  .  Wherever  the 
spirit  of  Charles  Lamb  touches  it  is  suffused  with  that  incomparable  and 
indescribable  charm  which  Lamb,  chief  among  men,  lends  to  anything  his 
personality  inspires.  The  letters  to  Lloyd  and  the  other  contents  of  the 
book  are  not  pre-eminent  among  Lambiana,  but  as  they  relate  to  him  at  all 
they  are  of  a  value  quite  distinct,  and  of  a  charm  very  positive." — Chicago 
Interior. 

J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


BY  CHARLES  MORRIS. 

ilMUKlUAL    THE  ROMANCE  OF  REALITY. 

TALES  I        Illustrated.    i2mo.    Cloth,  $1.25  per 
volume  ;  half  calf,  $2.50. 

Vol.  I.      —AMERICA. 

Vol.  II.    —ENGLAND. 

Vol.  III.   —FRANCE. 

Vol.  IV.  —GERMANY. 

Vol.  V.    —GREECE. 

Vol.  VI.  —ROME. 

Vol.  VII.  —RUSSIA. 

Vol.  VIII.— CHINA  AND  JAPAN. 

Vol.  IX.   —SPAIN. 


"  Mr.  Morris  tells  his  stories  pleasantly,  the  tales  themselves 
are  well  worth  telling,  and  the  reader  derives  both  enjoyment 
and  knowledge  from  the  half  hours  spent  with  the  books. 
'  The  Romance  of  Reality'  is  the  sub-title  of  these  books,  and 
it  is  wisely  chosen.  The  stories  are  of  real  men  and  real 
happenings.  When  one  reads  them,  it  is  seen  that  truth  is 
indeed  stranger  than  fiction,  and  that  the  nemesis  that  pursues 
the  novelist's  characters  is  present  in  life  and  confronts  the 
greatest  of  men  and  the  least  when  least  looked  for.  And  the 
wonderful  doings  of  other  ages  have  their  modern-day  parallels, 
we  find,  and  human  nature  is  much  the  same  at  all  times  and 
in  all  countries  ;  all  of  which  reflections  are  bound  to  come  to 
those  who  read  these  tales,  as  will  other  reflections  less  trite, 
and  much  pleasure  and  gratification  as  well." — Portland  Tran- 
script. 

J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


BY  SYDNEY  GEORGE  FISHER. 

THE    TRUE  With  numerous  illustrations,  portraits, 

D  C  \I  I  A  l\/t  I M  an(^  feC'Si™!65-    Crown  octavo.    Cloth, 

DC  IN  JAM  UN  |200       Uniform    with    "THE   TRUE 

FRANKLIN.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON." 


"  Mr.  Fisher  has  done  a  service  to  American  literature  and 
history  which  is  not  to  be  measured  alone  by  the  facts  supplied 
in  his  book.  There  is  a  sentimental  value  to  his  study,  which 
resides  in  its  effect  upon  the  public  mind  in  making  us  realize 
the  true  proportions  of  one  of  our  few  great  men.  Washington 
and  Franklin  are  the  true  figures  in  our  early  history  to  which 
the  verdict  of  the  world  has  given  lasting  fame.  Paul  Leicester 
Ford  has  changed  Washington  from  a  myth  into  a  human 
being.  Mr.  Fisher  has  done  the  same  for  Franklin.  Of  the 
two  heroes  Washington  was  the  less  understood.  But  the 
popular  conception  of  Franklin  in  its  way  was  also  far  from 
the  truth.  The  result  of  Mr.  Fisher's  analysis  of  Franklin  will 
be  to  make  him  more  distinctly  a  great  American  than  ever  he 
was  to  us  before.  Mr.  Fisher  evidently  has  made  a  careful 
study  of  Franklin ;  first,  as  he  reveals  himself  in  his  own 
writings  and  in  his  life  ;  and,  secondly,  as  his  biographers  and 
those  who  were  contemporary  with  him  have  estimated  him. 
He  destroys  some  popular  delusions  concerning  him,  and,  on 
the  other  hand,  brings  out  more  clearly  and  forcibly  than  hereto- 
fore the  greatness  of  certain  qualities  of  his  character  which 
have  been  rather  lost  sight  of  or  neglected.  Mr.  Fisher  has 
done  his  work  with  the  painstaking  care  and  skill  that  have 
made  his  various  other  books  along  historical  lines  of  recognized 
merit.  He  writes  clearly,  frankly,  and  without  prejudice." — 
Philadelphia  Evening  Bulletin. 


J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


The  True  George  Washington. 


BY 


PAUL   LEICESTER   FORD, 

Author  of 
"  The  Honorable  Peter  Stirling,"  etc. 


With  twenty-four  full-page  illustrations.     Crown  8vo.     Cloth,  deckle 
edges,  $2.00;  three-quarters  levant,  $5.00. 


"  This  book  is  a  monument  of  industry." — New  York  Nation. 

"  This  is  a  wonderfully  interesting  book." — Buffalo  Commercial. 

"  Mr.  Ford's  book  is  rich  in  new  matter  which  commends  itself  as  interesting 
as  well  as  valuable." — Washington  Times. 

"  Mr.  Ford  has  delved  with  diligence  and  with  rich  reward  into  contemporary 
records,  correspondence,  and  traditions,  and  gives  an  entertaining  account  of  colo- 
nial times  and  of  the  personal  traits  of  the  Father  of  His  Country." — Chicago 
Advance. 

"  Mr.  Ford's  book  is  important  out  of  all  proportion  to  its  size,  and  will 
probably  be  read  so  long  as  the  name  of  Washington  continues  to  be  revered. 
Brushing  aside  the  hysterical  panegyrics  of  would-be  biographers  and  historians 
as  well  as  super-laudatory  passages  in  works  otherwise  trustworthy  and  meritorious, 
Mr.  Ford  resolutely  set  out  to  acquire  real  knowledge  of  the  man,  George  Wash- 
ington. Few  of  the  other  heroes  of  history  could  pass  unscathed  through  an 
examination  so  thorough  and  so  rigid.  Every  attainable  fact  that  helps  to  show 
the  Father  of  His  Country  as  he  was  in  his  social  and  family  relations  has  been 
carefully  considered." — Boston  Evening  Gazette. 

"  This  work  challenges  attention  for  the  really  valuable  light  which  it  throws 
upon  the  character  of  George  Washington.  The  picture  which  Mr.  Ford  here 
draws  of  him  is  careful,  life-like,  and  impressive  in  the  extreme.  While  his  ex- 
haustive researches  have  resulted  in  humanizing  Washington  '  and  making  him 
*.  man  rather  than  a  historical  figure,'  a  fair  and  intelligent  reader,  we  submit, 
will  arise  from  the  glowing  chapters  of  Mr.  Ford's  work  with  a  larger  conception 
of  the  character,  endowments,  and  equipment  of  the  first  of  Americans.  .  .  . 
The  work  embodies  a  surprising  measure  of  information  on  a  most  important  as 
well  as  interesting  subject." — Philadelphia  Evening  Bulletin. 


J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


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